Recently, a wave of false fabricated stories about the
activities of the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme has been
systematically circulated. Wabiye Idoniboyeobu Media Consultant to the Special
Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Coordinator of the
Presidential Amnesty Programme in a recent press statement, said the recent act
of blackmail “is not only detrimental to
the peace and stability of the region but also a hindrance in achieving the
overall success of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.”
The statement reads:
“It has been discovered that a group of people have been
mandated to constantly circulate false information about the Amnesty Office, in
a bid to cause panic and chaos amongst beneficiaries of the programme. This is
evil and must not be encouraged. Blackmail and extortion has become a growing
trend practiced by overambitious politicians in the Niger Delta, as proceeds
from these acts, most times is their only source of livelihood.
“It has been echoed numerous times that the Amnesty
Programme is a security programme and should be void of politics. This is the
only way the programme can successfully achieve its mandate of the Disarmament,
Demobilization and Reintegration of the 30000 Ex-Agitators captured under the
programme.
“The Programme which was launched by the Yar-Adua led
Federal Government in 2012, is being carried on and maintained by the current
administration under very different conditions. The unstable economy the world
is currently facing affects not only Nigeria, but many other countries out
there. The price of Oil is about a quarter of what it was four years ago and
the exchange rate to a dollar is nothing to write home about. Note that over
1000 students are still in foreign Universities, sent their by the previous
administration and managed by the current one. This means the office has to
cater for students that are currently gulping more than 3 times the value of
their fees and allowances 3 years ago with a reduced budget. This and many more
are challenges facing Amnesty Office and are strategically being taken care of
by the current leadership.
“General Boroh through all this, has tilted his focus to Agriculture,
which is the future of our Nation. An average of 100 delegates are trained and
empowered on a monthly basis. If this is maintained it will be a boost to the
Federal Government’s aim to diversify the economy from Oil dependency to
Agriculture.
“Through the current hardship, the achievements of the
current leadership are too numerous to mention and should be capitalized upon
to encourage Federal Government to do more. Backbiting and blackmailing only
makes us look un-serious and should be avoided as much as possible.”
Source:- Netssng
Source:- Netssng
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