By Jesse Ese
National News – The Niger Delta Ex-Agitators Forum has described the ongoing attacks and blackmail against the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dennis Otuaro, over the inclusion of more Niger Delta youths into the programme as unpatriotic and a deliberate attempt to frustrate the development of the region.
The group, through its Convener, self-styled General Emma Satu, said those opposing the expansion of the programme are enemies of progress who do not want the younger generation of the Niger Delta to benefit from opportunities created through the PAP initiative.
Satu maintained that the Presidential Amnesty Programme, established in 2009, was designed to promote disarmament, rehabilitation and reintegration in the Niger Delta, stressing that the effects of the agitation in the oil-rich region went beyond ex-agitators alone.
“Niger Deltans are more than 30,000. Those faceless groups blackmailing Dr. Dennis Otuaro for adding more Niger Delta youths into the Presidential Amnesty Programme hate the growth and development of the region,” he stated.
According to him, beneficiaries captured into the programme over the years have now built families, while many of their children are already in higher institutions, making it unreasonable for anyone to oppose the inclusion of more qualified Niger Delta youths.
“Since 2009 that the PAP was established, those captured in the programme have given birth to children who are now in the university. So why are some people angry over the inclusion of more persons into the system?” he asked.
He dismissed allegations that Otuaro was turning the programme into a personal business venture, insisting that the newly added beneficiaries are genuine Niger Deltans who deserve empowerment and support.
“The people Otuaro has brought into the programme, are they from Japan? Are they not Niger Deltans?” he queried.
Satu further argued that women, children and elderly persons in communities affected during the peak of the Niger Delta struggle also suffered the consequences of the crisis and should not be excluded whenever opportunities for intervention arise.
“You cannot say it is only ex-agitators that the Niger Delta struggle affected. What about the children, women and the aged in communities that were bombarded during the struggle? Aren’t they also entitled to benefit from the programme if the need arises?” he said.
The ex-agitator leader warned against attempts to deny more youths access to opportunities capable of steering them away from criminality and restiveness, insisting that inclusion and empowerment remain critical to sustaining peace in the region.
“Do they want the youths to engage in crime and criminality before they are considered for amnesty?” he asked.
He called on stakeholders across the Niger Delta to support policies and programmes that promote unity, empowerment and sustainable development rather than engaging in actions capable of dividing the people.
“When you don’t want your brother to grow or to be carried along, that is evil,” he added.
