By Our Correspondent
National News – Leaders of the Niger Delta Ex-agitators Forum have passed a vote of confidence on the Sole Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Chief Dennis Otuaro, commending his performance two years after assuming office.
The group, led by its convener, self-styled General Emmanuel Satu, said Otuaro’s track record since taking over the programme stands out as the most impactful since the establishment of the PAP in 2009.
According to the forum, a review of records at the Amnesty Office shows that no previous coordinator or administrator has outperformed Otuaro in key areas, particularly in education and human capital development across the Niger Delta.
They noted that Otuaro quickly understood the shift from the era of armed struggle to a new phase driven by education and intellectual empowerment, and consequently introduced a blueprint aimed at sending ex-agitators and other Niger Delta youths to school.
The group highlighted that within two years, Otuaro has facilitated over 8,000 scholarships for beneficiaries in the region, describing the figure as a record-breaking achievement unmatched in the programme’s 16-year history.
While addressing concerns over stipends, the forum alleged that individuals behind protests and criticisms are leaders who fail to remit the approved N65,000 monthly payments to their members, accusing them of sponsoring campaigns to discredit the PAP leadership.
They maintained that Otuaro’s approach is not limited to stipend increments, but focused on long-term development, noting that his policies are expanding the scope of the programme to accommodate more youths beyond the initial 30,000 captured ex-agitators.
The forum explained that the expansion is necessary to prevent renewed agitation, stressing that limiting benefits to only those originally disarmed could create fresh tensions in the region.
They added that Otuaro’s interventions are already impacting communities across the Niger Delta, particularly in education and training, preparing beneficiaries and their families for a more stable future.
The group called on Bola Tinubu to ignore what it described as blackmail and propaganda against Otuaro, urging continued support for his leadership while also advocating for a possible extension of his tenure, as they pledged to mobilise support for the President ahead of the 2027 elections.
