As we step into the month of April, popular ex-Niger Delta freedom fighter, Mr. Preye Ekpebide, has felicitated all third phase ex-agitators across the oil-rich region.
“I am grateful to God for ushering us into a new month that, I am hopeful, will open new windows of opportunities for us to explore and grow individually and as a forum,” said Ekpebide in a goodwill message sent to newsmen on Tuesday.
Ekpebide who is the National Chairman of Third Phase Ex-Agitators Forum of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) wished the former freedom fighters health, joy and peace throughout the new month and beyond.
He called on all phase 3 ex-agitators to close ranks and work for the welfare of all members of the forum, as well as remain law-abiding in the interest of the region and Nigeria.
“Let me seize this medium to urge my fellow retired-but-not-tired ex-agitators to continue being law-abiding and refrain from acts that will be inimical to our region, the Amnesty Programme, and Nigeria as a whole.
“We don’t have another region or country to run to should the worst happen. This is our God given land, so let us flee from actions that will be inimical to the peace and stability we are currently enjoying,” he said.
Ekpebide also urged the third phase ex-agitators to remain supportive of the Chief Dennis Otuaro-led Amnesty Programme, “in its quest to better our lives and stabilize the region.”
According to the third phase leader, “the PAP under the esteemed leadership of Chief (Dr) Dennis Brutus Otuaro means well for us and he is taking concrete steps to make the Amnesty Programme succeed, thus we should reciprocate the gesture by supporting the Office to do more for us.”
Ekpebide further thanked the Chairman of Tantita Security Services Limited, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, and the company’s Managing Director, Engr. Kestin Pondi, for including Niger Delta youths especially ex-agitators in the scheme of things.
“The reputable private security company (Tantita) is really carrying ex-agitators along and we are grateful to them.
“Today, many of our people are meaningfully engaged via the surveillance job and our young entrepreneurs are being given grants in millions, all to ensure that we don’t go back to the creeks to perpetrate violence,” Ekpebide said.
He said Otuaro, Tompolo and Pondi deserve encomiums for engaging and empowering youths of the region that according to him have resulted in the current peace, unity and stability in the deltaic region.
