The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programm, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has called on PAP delegates and the youth of the Niger Delta to preserve the peace currently enjoyed in the region.
His appeal was echoed by the Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Major General Felix Mujakperuo (retd.), who also stressed the importance of maintaining peace and security.
Otuaro emphasized that safeguarding the region from violence and disruptions would attract more investments and stimulate economic growth both locally and nationally.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Igoniko Oduma, Otuaro described the youths and PAP delegates as vital contributors to peace-building, development, and investment in the Niger Delta.
“The Presidential Amnesty Programme is your programme, and you are all crucial partners in the peace, development, and economic progress of the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole,” Otuaro said.
He highlighted the PAP’s commitment to engaging stakeholders and empowering delegates and youths through educational and vocational initiatives.
Otuaro also expressed gratitude for the support of the delegates, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and President Bola Tinubu. He reassured them that President Tinubu is committed to completing key projects in the region, such as the East-West Road.
Additionally, Otuaro revealed that the President had approved an increase in the annual budget for the Amnesty Programme, which would allow for the inclusion of more youths and women in the scheme. He urged delegates to avoid protests, particularly in light of rumors of a demonstration scheduled for October 1st, stating that such actions would not benefit the region or the nation.
Several speakers at the meeting, including Elder Timi Ogoriba, founder of the Movement for the Survival of the Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), and former freedom fighters Eris Paul (alias Ogunboss) and Pastor Reuben Wilson, echoed Otuaro’s sentiment, noting that the region has moved beyond the need for protests.
HRM Major General Felix Mujakperuo also urged the Niger Delta people, particularly the youth, to recognize the value of peace and security.
During a courtesy visit from Dr. Otuaro, the monarch praised President Tinubu for upholding the Amnesty Programme and lauded the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua for establishing it. Mujakperuo expressed confidence in Otuaro’s leadership and the continued positive impact of the programme on peace and development in the region.
“Let us not take the peace and security (of our region) for granted like the air we are breathing. So, we are interested in peace because if there is no peace there will not be development in our kingdoms”, Mujakperuo said.
(Vanguard)
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