Former Senator James Manager, who represented Delta South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has said that some challenges within the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) are deliberate distractions orchestrated by individuals who do not have the best interests of the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta region at heart.
According to Manager, these malicious schemes were designed to prevent the PAP Administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, from effectively performing his duties.
Manager made these remarks when Otuaro paid him a consultative visit at his Abuja residence over the weekend.
He commended the PAP boss for managing the office effectively despite the distractions.
A statement issued by Mr. Igoniko Oduma, the Special Assistant on Media to the PAP Administrator, on Sunday, quoted Manager as saying that Otuaro has shown great capacity and competence in the discharge of his duties since assuming office.
Manager noted that Otuaro’s approach to implementing the programme’s mandate suggests that he already had a clear understanding of how to administer the programme before President Bola Tinubu appointed him.
The former senator, who represented Delta South for 20 years, emphasized that Otuaro is well aware of the challenges of the office and the problems facing the Niger Delta.
He urged Otuaro to remain focused on his objectives and expressed satisfaction with the significant progress made in repositioning the office for greater service to the people of the region and the country at large.
Manager highlighted that the programme was established to ensure the sustainable peace, security, stability, and development of the region.
He affirmed that Otuaro is on the right path in executing the programme’s objectives.
He said, “Once again, I want to thank you for your consultative visit. You have been deeply involved in the struggle, and I trust that you possess the capacity and competence to lead the office.
“Already, you have demonstrated your capabilities in the efficient manner you have handled the office and implemented the PAP mandate, which was designed for a specific purpose: the maintenance of peace, security, and development in the Niger Delta.
“I urge you to stay focused on your goals. It is true that some of the challenges facing the Presidential Amnesty Programme are orchestrated distractions from certain elements who do not wish well for the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta. But stay focused on what you are doing.”
Earlier in his remarks, the PAP Administrator informed Manager that under his leadership, the programme was working diligently to reposition itself for the overall benefit of the region.
Otuaro explained that the programme is currently in its reintegration phase, which is extensive in scope.
He added that with more funding, the PAP office could achieve even more through its educational, vocational, and post-training empowerment initiatives for the people of the region.
He said, “I understand the challenges of our region. We are in the reintegration phase of the programme, which is quite broad, and we need to engage more for the benefit of our region and Nigeria as a whole.
“We believe that with increased funding, we will be able to do more for our region in terms of sustainable peace, security, and uninterrupted development.
“We have educational, vocational, and post-training empowerment programmes in place to support everyone.
“We are committed to doing whatever we can for the betterment of our people and our region.”
