PAP Boss Vows to Tackle Niger Delta Challenges, Reassures Ex-Agitators - IPDI Tells Ogbia Ex-Agitators

PAP Boss Vows to Tackle Niger Delta Challenges, Reassures Ex-Agitators - IPDI Tells Ogbia Ex-Agitators

The Ijaw People's Development Initiative (IPDI) has thrown its weight behind the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) boss, Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, saying that he is committed to addressing the challenges of ex-agitators and the Niger Delta region. The group stated this while responding to the smear campaign by the alleged Ogbia ex-agitators led by one Nathaniel Nicholas.

According to IPDI's national president, Comrade Ozobo Austin, the issue of appeals of court judgments is a bureaucratic decision of the government and not personal. He advised the Ogbia ex-agitators to tread with caution, noting that an appeal does not foreclose further negotiations or roundtable discussions.

They noted that Otuaro reinstated all suspended PAP programmes including foreign educational scholarships, marine training, vocational, aviation training, local educational scholarships, proper   stakeholders engagement and among others.

The group maintained that Otuaro made a massive deployment of students in foreign and local universities in the previous years under the PAP scholarship programme, stating that this was a good sign of patriotism and commitment to the affairs of ex-agitators and Niger Delta People.

Ozobo emphasised that Dr. Otuaro is too committed to addressing genuine complaints of ex-agitators and development of Niger Delta and does not have time to respond to smear campaigns and blackmails by detractors. He urged the affected ex-agitators to learn to dialogue and engage in roundtable discussions, adding that smear campaign would not provide a solution to their plights but will aggravate it. He pointed out that the removal of their names from the payroll was orchestrated by the previous administration led by Gen. Ndiomu.

The IPDI president commended Dr. Otuaro's transformative reforms, saying that they are the best among previous administrations. He noted that all issues cannot be addressed in one day and urged people to be patient with Dr. Otuaro.

Ozobo also warned the Ogbia ex-agitators not to be incited by Jude Gbaboyor, who spearheaded the removal of their names from the payroll under the guise of multiple BVN in the previous administration. He advised them not to engage in smear campaigns and abuses against Dr. Otuaro, who is trying to make things easier for every ex-agitator.

The IPDI president added that Dr. Otuaro is calm and brave in addressing issues and is not worried about petty defamatory and verbal attacks. He noted that there are several reasons why a court judgment should be appealed, including to forestall unlawful execution of judgment in some cases that may be injurious to an institution.

IPDI reminded the Ogbia ex-agitators that an appeal is an institutional decision and not a personal decision. He pointed out that the PAP office is under the directorate of the national security adviser to the president, and the payment approval of such persons will be decided by the presidency, not Dr. Otuaro alone.

Ozobo further urged the Ogbia ex-agitators to use diplomacy to pursue their cause, rather than engaging in smear campaigns and abuses. He expressed confidence that Dr. Otuaro will continue to work towards addressing the challenges of ex-agitators and the Niger Delta region.