The South Wing of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) Abuja has endorsed Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro, the administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Program (PAP).
In a statement jointly signed by chairman, South Wing, MEND Abuja, Momos Wilberforce, secretary, South Wing, MEND Abuja, Gabriel Patterson, contact and mobilisation, Theophilus Ebiama, thegroup condemned protests staged by certain individuals at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) office in Abuja, calling for Otuaro’s removal.
Momos Wilberforce described the protests as “politically motivated and bankrolled by individuals who have lost access to the corrupt pipeline of patronage that once characterised the program.
He emphasised that the protesters’ interest is not in the development of the Niger Delta or the success of the Amnesty Program, but rather in personal enrichment at the expense of peace.
“Dr. Otuaro has brought a fresh sense of purpose and integrity to the program. In the shortest time he has spent in that office”.
“He has also demonstrated a sincere purpose of being an Administrator of the PAP. He has brought Hope, Joy, Assurance and Confidence to the Heart and Mind of the Niger Delta people and Nigerians at Large.
Unlike his predecessors who allowed the program to be controlled by corrupt Individuals, Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro has started reforms that place the interests of genuine ex-agitators and the region above individual gain”.
According to the statement, “With Him, the Presidential PAP has made significant strides in addressing the needs and wants of our people in the Niger Delta region. And we believe that it is important and very necessary that we give him the needed support so as to implement his plans and initiatives that are in the pipeline, as we know.”
They called for an immediate end to the protests, which they believe are aimed at distracting Dr. Otuaro from his efforts to transform the PAP.
The group expressed support for Dr. Otuaro’s leadership and urged all well-meaning Niger Delta citizens to join him in condemning the protests.
