Phase 2 Ex-agitators of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has said that some selfish politicians were sponsoring a smear campaign against the interim administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Major General Tariye Barry Ndiomu (rtd).
In a statement made available to newsmen in Yenagoa on Friday, the national spokesman of the Phase 2 Ex-agitators, Ibena Rufus Salvation, described those behind the plan as enemies of the Niger Delta.
He said investigations revealed that the motive behind the sinister campaign by one Eshanakpe Israel (Akpodoro) and his cohorts, bankrolled against the general interests of the Niger Delta, was to deny Maj-Gen Ndiomu his well-deserved confirmation as the substantive coordinator of the amnesty programme.
Ibena stated that under Ndiomu’s watch as interim administrator, enormous windows of employment opportunities have been provided for ex-agitators in the oil-rich Niger Delta region to thrive, saying that the innovative ideas initiated by Ndiomu would guarantee the socio-economic sustainability of ex-agitators and young people in the Niger Delta.
Ibana charged Eshanakpe Israel (Akpodoro), who claimed to be a warlord to show his activities during the arm’s struggle in the Niger Delta, adding that the fact that he submitted knives and hunter’s guns to security agents in the name of amnesty, does not make him a warlord, ex-agitator or freedom fighter, but just a privileged beneficiary.
