By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The ex-agitators in the Niger Delta have said that the ongoing reforms by the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) in its scholarship scheme is to ensure the well-being of the already engaged beneficiaries and the proper education of ex-agitators.
Leaders of the second and third phases of the PAP scheme, while speaking with newsmen in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital Tuesday, said the scholarship scheme was recently suspended due to debts and other financial commitment.
National chairmen of the third phase ex-agitators, Elaye Slaboh, and second phase, Olotu Wanemi, told newsmen respectively that the scholarship was not abruptly terminated as being speculated, while calling on the follow ex-agitators to always work for the peace of Niger Delta region.
They also urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to reappoint Maj. Gen Barry Ndiomu (rtd) as PAP administrator “to continue with the reforms aimed at bringing the best out of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.”
According to Slaboh and Wanemi, “For the allegation of illegal termination of the education scholarship of some PAP’s beneficiaries, it is instructive to know that the education scholarship is a conditional sponsorship subject to the fulfilment and adherence to certain rules. Therefore, any individual who acts in contravention of these rules will have himself to blame and not the office.
“The claims that Ndiomu diverted the funds meant for the scholarship programme to sponsor election is laughable.
“The Presidential Amnesty Programme was specifically designed for the ex-agitators who fought against the activities of the Federal Government in the Niger Delta region with their arms and subsequently granted amnesty in 2009. The inclusion of persons in the impacted communities to benefit from the scheme through educational sponsorship is only a privilege and not a right.
“The privilege must not be abused or taken for granted, the office shall remain committed to the affairs and welfare of the real beneficiaries of the programme who surrendered arms to the Federal Government and not hoodlums who have turned the activities of PAP into merchandise.
“Any allegation that PAP abruptly terminated the educational scholarship under the programme is not true, it is aimed at creating another crisis in the Niger Delta region,” they said.
They also applauded and commended the interim administrator, Major General Tariye Barry Ndiomu (rtd) for the introduction of the cooperative scheme “which many have started benefiting, a program aimed at empowering beneficiaries not to rely on the monthly stipends, but would catapult them to self reliance and employer of labour,” and also called for the upward review of the stipends due to the prevailing inflation in the country.
National Secretary of the third Phase of the ex-agitators, Clement Wodo, and leader of the group, Ebi John, called for support to reposition the Presidential Amnesty Programme in order for the beneficiaries to get what the Federal Government has earmarked for them.
Also speaking, general Ndutimi Victor, urged members to pass a vote of confidence on the interim administrator, Major General Tariye Barry Ndiomu for being a father figure to the ex- agitators in the Niger Delta region.
