Stakeholders from the Niger Delta region have condemned an allegation of involvement of a frontline former militant leader, Chief Ebikabowei Victor-Ben, popularly known as Boyloaf, in financial wrongdoing claims levelled against the office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) by the online tabloid.
The stakeholders which comprised elders of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), members of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Traditional Rulers, Youth and Women groups across the Niger Delta, described the publication as a selective witch-hunt, sponsored personal attack and deliberate plan to cause disaffection and security breach in the region.
The online tabloid had earlier reported that the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta was among Government’s Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) that had violated Financial Transparency laws of the country by authorizing the payment of huge sums of public funds into private accounts.
The publication had claimed that “the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta tops the list of MDAs making such controversial payments.”
However, the stakeholders from the crude oil rich region argued that their findings showed that the online tabloid failed to state exactly how much money was paid monthly to the ex-militant leader for onward payment to thousands of delegates in his camp.
Explaining further, they said the online report also failed to account for the number of delegates in the various camps across the region, as well as to explain what other way or mechanism should the federal government utilize in paying thousands of ex-militants across the region if not through their private accounts.
The stakeholders in a joint press statement issued in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and signed by Chief Bubaraye Daniels, described the allegedly sponsored online report as misleading, and a personal attack against Boyloaf by disgruntled and failed politicians who blame him for their election losses.
The stakeholders said, “despite the fact that the report of the online tabloid is incorrect, Boyloaf is known to his followers and millions of people across the region as a credible, upright former warlord, a formidable and disciplined Niger Deltan who in recent years have risen to the role of a great statesman, a Peace and Conflict Resolution Strategist and advocate.
“The online tabloid has turned into a gossip and blackmailing medium, and has done great disservice to its reputation as their mischief became obvious by their decision to single out Chief Victor-Ben without listing other prominent former militant leaders that received larger amounts, and paid in like manner by the PAP office for onward payments to thousands of delegates and beneficiaries in their various camps across the six (6) states in the Niger Delta region.
“The amount quoted by the online tabloid is not only small, but insulting, and belittling, given the thousands of lives lost, and the monumental contributions made by these Former Militant Leaders in achieving sustainable peace across the region that enabled the federal government and multinational oil and gas companies to explore, extract, and export crude oil and gas products from the Niger Delta region.
“Let it be known that Boyloaf is not a civil servant nor a career politician. He is a Statesman of high repute and beloved by his people. Boyloaf was not only a co-founder, but he was extremely instrumental for the successful establishment of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
“And he has continued to fulfill his obligations under the agreement reached with the Federal Government since 2009 to ensure sustained peace and stability in the region. Hardly can you find anyone across the region that understands the workings of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) better than Boyloaf.
“He has not only maintained the peace accord reached with the federal government but has transformed himself and thousands of his followers in ways unimaginable, both educationally and politically, and contributes immensely to the political and socio-economic growth and development in the region and the country at large.
“Since the inception of the PAP, never has anyone heard that delegates from Boyloaf’s camp were protesting against the non-payment of their monthly stipends.
“These disgruntled and failed politicians making false and frivolous publications against Boyloaf should understand that no amount of blackmail or publications will sway Boyloaf from working to ensure peace in the region, despite occasional agitations caused by sabotage and over the unfulfilled infrastructural development promised to the ex-militant leaders by the federal government during the Presidential Amnesty Proclamation. Boyloaf has become an instrument for security and socio-economic growth in the Niger Delta region.”