Port Harcourt—The Niger Delta Amnesty Delegates Network (NDADN) has chided a group known as the Ijaw People’s Development Initiative (IPDI) over its call for the resignation of the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd).
Mangrovepen.ng gathered that the IPDI in a statement by its coordinator, Ozobo Austin had urged the PAP boss to resign if he was not ready to serve the people.
According to the group, the call has become imperative due to Ndiomu’s recent threat to delist or suspend ex-agitators who join any protest.
Ozobo who stressed that ex-military officers who never supported the Ijaw struggle do not deserve to be appointed as coordinators of the PAP called on Ndiomu to rectify ex-agitators with BVN challenges and ensure that their stipends are paid.
Responding to the IPDI, the NDADN in a statement by Mewariwei Boyed Alfred, National Chairman/Chairman, Delta State Chapter and Owoupele Eneoriekumoh, Chairman, Bayelsa State Chapter.
Others are Ominidougha I. Richard, Chairman, Ondo State Chapter, Comrade Jumbo Daniels, Chairman, Rivers State,
Endurance Eferruoa, Chairman, Edo State Chapter, Ntukidem Inimfom Imaenyin, Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Chapter and Edwin Nnamdi Oyidibia, Chairman, Imo State Chapter, described the statement by the IPDI as disparaging.
The NDADN further described the statement as an unguarded and careless outburst carefully concocted to tarnish Ndiomu’s reputation who, they maintain, has proven himself and maintained a track record of service and financial propriety
both in the public and private sectors.
“That the said publication has also exposed the brazen ignorance and lack of understanding of the author in the dynamics of the Amnesty Programme and how it is run as it is an interventionist programme created under the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President hence the reason for the appointment of serving and retired Military officers to head it.
“That the said publication is also a calculated attempt by the maker and the disgruntled elements behind him which were sponsored to incite, misinform and mislead unsuspecting beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) against the Interim Administrator and the Amnesty Office.
“It is on the strength of the above that, we the National leadership of the Niger Amnesty Delegates Network (NDADN) want to charge the maker Comr. Austin Ozobo to tread with caution and not fan the embers of conflict in order not to hurt the fragile peace enjoyed in the Niger Delta region,” the statement reads.
While cautioning Ozobo against making “unfounded and spurious allegations” without credible evidence to substantiate same, the group enjoined all stakeholders, leaders and delegates of the PAP to be calm and exercise patience, and allow Ndiomu to roll out his plan and policies for the Amnesty Programme.