FG: Address amnesty issues now

We wish to call on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) to urgently address all the issues threatening the implementation of the programme and peace in the oil rich Niger Delta. The programme was introduced to develop and empower Niger Delta youths, but the current political power play will […]

We wish to call on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) to urgently address all the issues threatening the implementation of the programme and peace in the oil rich Niger Delta.

The programme was introduced to develop and empower Niger Delta youths, but the current political power play will strangulate PAP because of meagre allocations.

This was the obligation the Federal Government undertook in exchange for peace and to end the self-help or (criminal activities) which was the order of the time in the region. It was in the wisdom of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua to end the incessant destruction of petroleum pipelines and kidnapping that ravaged economic activities in the region by asking the militants and other restive groups to wilfully give up arms in exchange for training and empowerment. This objective has not been achieved till now.

The presidency should, therefore, not stand by and watch the cordial relationship between this government and the Niger Delta youths further deplete, as what is left is a fragile conscience of the Niger Delta youths to hold the existing peace in the region. Nigeria must not allow this conscience, the very last straw, to die.

We, therefore, call on the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to urgently revive PAP by appointing a new indigenous coordinator for the programme, and also urge that all contractors and trainers be paid forthwith to maintain the sanity of contracts.

 

Austine Imahudor: For Niger Delta Youths