National chairman of the Niger Delta Ex-Agitators Forum under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (Phase 3), Gen. Elaye Slaboh, has warned against turning the amnesty program into a political office.
Slaboh stated this while cautioning those he described as self-acclaimed members of unknown clans and ethnic groups within the Niger Delta agitating for the appointment of persons from Urhobo extraction as coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
Describing their action as politically motivated, the national chairman of the ex-agitators, called for a halt to sponsored publications by those groups, stressing that such actions can create unrest in the Niger Delta region which has been peaceful over the years.
He said; “Let the attention of the Presidency, Senate and House of Representatives including all the Governors in the South-South region, and prestigious institutions such as the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), including political and traditional leaders and elder statesmen in the region be called to the politically motivated agitations.”
In a related development, the national publicity secretary of the PAP Phase 3 and an ex-agitator, Chief General Inko Brightstar WhoKnows Tomorrow, has urged the federal government to review its annual budget for the presidential amnesty programme, and effect an increment as the programme needs adequate funding to carry out expected programmes and projects of the programme.
He also noted that 75 percent of the oil wells and facilities are domiciled in the Ijaw territory, stressing the great need for the federal government to meet the demands of the people of the Niger Delta region.
The ex-agitator stated that the Ijaw nationality is a strong pillar to the economy of the Nigerian State which should be given the exclusive benefit and privilege to coordinate the affairs of the programme which is a fruit of their struggle against inequality and marginalisation.
He added that any attempt to appoint a non-Ijaw to head the amnesty programme will be resisted by the Ijaws entirely.
He noted that scores of lives were lost and their lands were destroyed including Kaiama, Olugbobiri, Odioma, Odi, Oporoza, Okerenkoko during their struggle.
“We hereby challenge those trying to politicise the presidential amnesty programme to mention just one militant camp outside the Ijaw nationality which is none setting the record straight, they are warned to desist from such acts forthwith, as such acts tends to create chaos into the programme.”
