Indignation and outrage have adopted a leaked memo revealing that the Committee arrange by the Federal Authorities to appraise the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), within the Niger Delta area purportedly really helpful that the programme be scrapped this yr.
The Pan-Niger Delta Discussion board (PANDEF) – the umbrella voice of the area – different stakeholders, together with agitators, throughout the area, kicked towards the plot, warning that ending the programme abruptly would quantity to declaring mayhem within the oil-rich area.
The Nationwide Coordinator of South-South Elders, and a Board Member of PANDEF, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, mentioned the purported suggestion was not within the curiosity of Nigeria.
He urged the Federal Authorities to disregard the report of the committee whereas accusing the workplace of the Nationwide Safety Advise of failing to correctly execute the programme.
In his phrases: “This hearsay has been on that the federal government needs to scrap the amnesty programme. I feel it’s the worst suggestion ever that anybody ought to give now to the federal government particularly now that we face challenges of Covid-19 and financial points.”
“The programme has stabilised the area and shouldn’t simply be referred to as off if the federal government need to peace to be sustained. If the top it this manner what it means is that folks could have to return to work.
“The Nationwide Safety Adviser, NSA, has not supervised the programme correctly. We expect it must be transferred to the workplace of the President for it to be correctly supervised.
“Many individuals are nonetheless in coaching and plenty of haven’t even gone for coaching. Some haven’t been paid for months, so ending it means you should have deserted folks.”
Equally, the Nationwide Youth Chief of PANDEF, Chief Vincent Oyibode, referred to as on the Federal Authorities “To not think about the plan if any committee, cabal or individual really helpful the evil plan to it.
“What the federal government ought to do is to refocus the Presidential Amnesty Programme and appoint trusted and upright Niger Deltan to manage the programme. ” He mentioned
“To finish it now, that’s suicidal, it should trigger unrest within the area and all youths of the area should stand to defend their proper. That is nepotism taken too excessive.
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“I name on all ethnic youth management of the area, significantly the agitators to come back out to defend what’s ours. We’re bored with the husband and spouse relationship referred to as Nigeria. The leaders of Niger Delta ought to all get up.
“Governors of Niger Delta states ought to go and see Mr. President instantly to know what he’s actually doing with PAP. I have no idea if he’s unaware that some cabal which are enemies of the area, inside and out of doors are plotting this devilish plan.” Oyibode mentioned
On his half, the Nationwide President of South-South Chiefs, Elders and Opinion Leaders Discussion board of Niger Delta, Excessive Chief (Dr) Omubo Harry, described the transfer as “An try to compound the issue we have already got within the area. The poverty points, marginalization, neglect, lack of jobs within the area haven’t been resolved and they’re recommending that the programme ends this yr. I feel this can be a product of dangerous sense of purpose.”
“Why do they need to begin violence within the fragile area at this level? Why ought to they suppose on this line if they’re within the peace and improvement of Niger Delta?” He queried
“The aim of the introduction of the programme has not been achieved so there is no such thing as a want for ending it now. There’s not but change within the dwelling normal on the folks. “In the event that they do that, I concern that youths could return to violence as a result of the aim of this programme has not been achieved,” he added.
In his response, the President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Comrade Peter Igbifa, warned that the transfer may plunge Nigeria into disaster because the area is not going to tolerate the termination of the Amnesty Programme.
In his phrases: “I had warned towards it earlier after we heard of it as a rumor, however nevertheless, I hope these wishing or recommending that the programme be stopped don’t plunge Nigeria right into a state of disaster as a result of the folks of the Niger Delta is not going to tolerate this motion.”
“Motive for it’s because the programme has different elements past simply cost of stipends. It’s a programme with a objective within the area. Principally talking, this so- referred to as suggestion is a name to anarchy.
“If the panel has certainly completed that with out participating with stakeholders, they need to guarantee to not point out it in any respect as a result of we’re certainly really calling for the appointment of a substantive Coordinator and Particular Adviser of the Programme, which have to be somebody from the area,” Igbifa mentioned.