PAP: 3rd Phase Ex-Agitators’ Leadership Crisis Deepens

Following the failure of the harmonisation meeting between factions in the leadership of the Third Phase Agitators of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) in Warri, Delta State, on Tuesday, which led to the sack of the Tonye Bobo-led National Executives of the third phase ex-agitators, some officials of the Presidential Amnesty Office have been fingered in the internal crisis rocking the body.

It was gathered that the meeting, which was called by the new Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Maj. Gen. Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd), to resolve the lingering internal leadership crisis, held in Warri on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, has rather deepened the crisis, which has lingered for a while.

In a three-paragraph letter, endorsed by chairmen of Rivers, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa and Ondo State chapters of the group, dated November 8, 2022 and addressed to the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Maj. Gen. Barry Ndiomu (rtd), a copy of which was made available to journalists, the aggrieved ex-agitators accused the manager of stakeholders and one Okoba in peace-building unit as the brains behind the sack of the Tonye Bobo-led national executive.

“We bring to your attention and good office that the meeting, which took place at Wetland Hotel Warri, Delta State on the 8th of November 2022, as directed to Mr. Angalapele and his team to harmonise all aggrieved ex-agitators of the third phase for peace building ended up in flop.

“The said meeting sir, by extension was another way to bring all the third phase ex-agitators under one umbrella, turned out to be another divided house without achieving the aim and objectives of the meeting after spending huge resources.

“To our greatest surprise, as the National leader of the third phase, Comr. Tonye Bobo, the message sent to us was to come with 10 persons each of the third phase leaders, rather, Angalapele and Co. went out of their way to invite 37 self acclaimed leaders to truncate the genuine leadership of the third phase.

“The meeting supposed to draw 10 leaders from Comrade Tonye Bobo and 10 leaders from Julius Joseph for peace building and settling of differences. Be that as it may, Angalapele and Co went out of their way to do a different thing entirely to terminate the genuine and well recognised leadership because of their own self interest.

“This singular conduct and other kangaroo meetings sir, is likely to breach the existing peace between the rant and file of the third phase in the region. In the light of the above, we demand the following:

“We call on the Interim Administrator to disregard the outcome of the kangaroo meeting that was held in Warri in Delta State on the 8th of November 2022.

“We call on the Interim Administrator of PAP as a matter of urgency to relieve Mr. Inemotimi Angalapele who is the manager of the stakeholders unit of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) for the betrayal of trust. Angalapele and Co, are working against the Amnesty Office and want to truncate the peace in the region.

“We are also calling for the removal of Mr. W Okoba from the peace building and should be investigated as he has been shortchanging chances of genuine ex-agitators for his personal gains. We are calling on the Interim Administrator to use his good office to do justice to this matter of betrayal by Mr. Angalapele and Co, to the leadership of third phase,” they said.

Those who signed the letter included: Comrade Tonye Bobo, National Chairman, Elaye Slaboh, Assistant National Secretary, Nko Brighterstar W. Jackson Oscar, Bayelsa State chairman, Best Ayakazi, Bayelsa State secretary, Whtye Itiye, Bayels State Adviser, Birinumugha Jesse, National Vice Chairman and Abuja Sel. Oge, Delta State chairman.

Others were; Ujeyah Louis, Delta State Secretary, Emmanuel Idoghor, Delta State Adviser, Abiodun Pete Edah, Edo State Chairman, Believe Jibor, Edo State secretary, Okoro Apiri, Ondo State Chairman, Serun Posi, Ondo State Secretary, Francis Great, National Mobilisation, Ndutimi Victor, Rivers State Chairman, Fred Ockiya, National Adviser, and Markson Isere, National Secretary.