Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
Former Niger Delta agitators have condemned frequent frivolous petitions against the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
The ex-militants under the auspices of Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI), in a statement issued on Friday, said such petitions were self-seeking and without basis.
LPCDI comprising reformed agitators who accepted the Federal Government’s Amnesty offer in the first phase, noted that Col. Milland Dikio, (rtd) Interim Administrator of PAP, has sanitised and transformed the scheme.
The statement was signed by its National President of LPCDI, Chief Reuben Wilson and National Secretary, Mr Nature Kieghe.
The LPCDI said Dikio’s laudable programmes and plans to advance the Presidential Amnesty Programme and the Niger Delta region is exemplary and laudable.
The group advocated that Dikio should be allowed to execute his laudable plans and projects for the betterment of the beneficiaries in the programme.
They said the unnecessary petitions and protests are seriously distracting the Interim administrator and not good for the collective interest of the beneficiaries of the scheme.
According to the statement the programme has witnessed too many frequent leadership changes due to such unnecessary petitions and protests, saying that this has led to the sudden truncation of the plans and projects of the past coordinators of PAP.
The group noted that the agitation has also slowed down the pace of implementation of the mandate of the programme.
“The frequent changes have led to every new Coordinator starting afresh with new plans and projects while abandoning those of his predecessors.
“This has greatly hindered the stability and effective implementation of the mandate of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
“It has, therefore, become imperative for these unnecessary petitions and protests to stop forthwith so that Dikio can concentrate on his job and diligently execute his plans and projects for the betterment of the beneficiaries of the programme.
“The frequent changes of Coordinators of the Presidential Amnesty Programme isn’t in the best interest of the Niger Delta region and therefore, should be condemned by all patriotic stakeholders of the region.
“We recognize and respect the fundamental rights of people to express themselves.
“Those who feel aggrieved by the actions of the Interim Administrator should express their views constructively and in a way that promotes unity and decorum.
“Such aggrieved persons should endeavour to reach out to the Interim Administrator and resolve such grievances amicably.
“We need unity and peace to accelerate the holistic development of the Niger Delta region.
“We strongly commend and appreciate those beneficiaries who have pending issues about their monthly stipends, training, empowerment, among others, with the Presidential Amnesty Office but have demonstrated patience and decorum in handling such issues.
“We commend you greatly for your peaceful disposition, sacrifices and patience,” the group stated.
The statement further expressed profound thanks to President Buhari, the National Security Adviser and the National Assembly for supporting and sustaining the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
“We are truly grateful, and we say a big thank you. Mr President’s positive disposition and support to the programme and for making it more responsive to the yearnings of the beneficiaries is unprecedented.
“We also commend other stakeholders who have contributed immensely to the success of the Presidential Amnesty Programme particularly the administration of the current Interim Administrator.
“However, we should endeavour to emulate the people of the North-East with respect to the way they have conducted themselves so far concerning the operations and activities of the North-East Development Commission which is a similar interventionist agency that doesn’t suffer the same fate as the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
“We hereby plead with all Niger Delta people to work together in unity and facilitate the accelerated development of the region.
“Instead of slowing down its pace of development with unnecessary petitions and protests, we should bury our differences, jettison our personal interests and work for the collective interest of the Niger Delta region,” LPCDI said.