Abuja—Retired Major General Barry Ndiomu, the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Tuesday said no amount of blackmail will compel him to succumb to soiling his hands with fraudulent activities in the programme.
He made this shortly after briefing the new National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu on PAP’s activities so far under his watch.
Ndiomu stated that his administration is aware that recent media attacks from people parading themselves as ex-agitators are being sponsored by faceless groups and individuals.
In his words: “If you like, blackmail me to the heavens and back, I will not succumb to fraudulent activities.
“We will ensure that we stand our ground to do what is right and just for our people, and vigorously pursue the intentions of the PAP.”
The Amnesty boss warned that those duly captured as PAP beneficiaries who are taking part in spreading false narratives will be penalized in line with extant laws of the programme.
He recalled that in the past, ex-agitators have been used as conduit pipes to siphon money illegally from the PAP, urging contractors who may have outstanding payments to follow due process in pursuing their cause instead of sponsoring falsehood.
“We are aware that those fighting back are those who have issues with their BVNs. How can only one person be receiving monthly stipends on several accounts linked to a single BVN?
“There are hundreds of cases like that. That is how deadly corruption is. When you try to fight it, it fights back.
“We are aware that there are contractors who criminally connive with some staff of the PAP in the past to come up with bogus and fictitious contract sums.
“But my conscience will not allow me to soil my hands with such fraudulent operations. It’s not going to be business as usual,” he stated.
Ndiomu had in the past discouraged ex-agitators from depending on the monthly stipends of N65,000, and look to more sustainable means of livelihood.
He bemoaned that the overdependence on the stipends has introduced a culture of indolence and laziness among our youth.
Part of the measures to address this was the recent launch of a Cooperative Scheme to provide a platform and means of viably engaging the ex-agitators into more productive ventures.
