Chief Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), has hinted that women were the first casualties in the Niger Delta struggle.
However, they were initially overlooked when the PAP programme began, he added.
Otuaro stated this while he welcomed a section of Niger Delta women to a stakeholders meeting on Wednesday in Warri, Delta State.
While acknowledging that women have a crucial role to play in the region’s peace and stability, he promised that, under his leadership, women will be included and empowered adequately.
The PAP boss further highlighted the progress made so far, citing that approximately 780 women have been sent to school, 1,389 women have received training, and about 1,000 women have been economically empowered.
He stressed that women’s contributions are vital to building a robust home and community, and their empowerment is essential for meaningful participation in the peace-building process.
His words: “My mothers you are welcome. Good morning to our mothers from Niger Delta. Today is a great day for the presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP.
“We are happy to be seated with our great mothers who travelled down to Warri to make their contribution for the advancement of the PAP programme. My mothers, our mothers you were the first casualties in the Niger Delta struggle.
“In the PAP programme women have a lot to benefit, of course when the programme started the women were not considered.
“But under my leadership as a PAP administrator, women will be carried along. Though, we have done little for the women. About 780 women have been sent to school. 1,389 women trained and about 1000 women have been empowered.
“I have said it earlier that you are critical to peace and stability in the Niger Delta region, because when there is peace you are the first casualties, at struggle, you are the first casualties.
“I have come to brainstorm with you to make your home robust. The women should be empowered so they could contribute meaningfully to the home. Mothers! you have a vital role to play in the peaceful building process in the Niger Delta region, effects that can’t be overemphasized.
“However, the scholarship programme is already ongoing, vocational and post training programmes will soon follow, I want our mothers to make a meaningful contribution to it as regards fostering peace and development in the region.”
On her part, Ms Ankio Briggs, a Niger Delta activist, while speaking during the meeting, said the Otuaro led administration had done noble by engaging the mothers on such a critical stakeholders meeting.
She added that, “We have been on this for very long. From camp 5 to Amnesty era and Avengers. I have always stood before our people because they’re on a cause.
“I want to remark that some of the women who make the critical sacrifices were not incorporated into the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
“Many of our sons who bore the arms died but others survived, the PAP administrator and High Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo were among the survivors and it was a rare divine privilege.
“I want to reiterate that despite the Niger Delta demonstrating sportsmanship by being peaceful, we are still treated with kid gloves and our plights being relegated to the background.
“We accepted the amnesty programme not because we are lazy, not because we’re being exhausted. But we accepted the PAP to strengthen peace in the country.
“But I want to reinvigorate that the government of Nigeria should know that the peace process can’t be completed without women.”
Chief Vero Tamigbe, speaking on behalf of the women, appreciated Otuaro for the timely engagement of women and considering women as critical stakeholders in the peace building of the Niger Delta region.
