The newly elected executives of the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Phase 2, led by the national chairman, Ibena Rufus Salvation, have declared their total support to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the newly appointed PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro, towards sustaining peace in the Niger Delta region.
Ibena was duly elected after a transparent voting process by leaders and members of the Phase 2 ex-agitators from Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Edo, and Ondo states, conducted by an electoral committee led by General Alex Livinus, over the weekend at the Pink and Purple Event Centre in Warri, Delta State.
Other members of the new executive are Godspower Mabiko national vice chairman, Abraham Vwaghie Stephen secretary, Timothy Tensibe spokesman, Philip Esau public relations officer, Appeal Indiowou financial secretary, and Akpos Gidigbein treasurer.
In a statement signed and issued on Monday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, Ibena applauded President Bola Ahmad Tinubu for appointing Dr Dennis Otuaro as the administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, saying that, as a product of the struggle, Otuaro understands the struggles of the people of the Niger Delta better than anybody.
He assured the Amnesty boss of the full support of ex-agitators, especially those in Phase 2, adding that, having keyed into his vision, Phase 2 ex-agitators under his leadership will work with him to achieve it.
Ibena also highlighted his vision for the ex-agitators in a five-point agenda, which includes unifying all leaders and members of the Phase 2 group with 6166 beneficiaries, ensuring that all leaders and members receive their payment promptly, addressing outstanding arrears that the Amnesty Office is owing, recovering missing slots back to their original owners, and securing educational and vocational scholarship training for all leaders and beneficiaries.
He said, “The appointment of Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro as the administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme was cheering news for us because it is what we had clamoured for.
“We are thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking the right decision in Dr Dennis Otuaro’s appointment in the interest of peace and stability in the Niger Delta. The president had demonstrated his commitment to the development of the region.
“Dr Dennis Otuaro has demonstrated within the last two months that he knows the struggles of the people of the Niger Delta better than anybody. He is a product of the Niger Delta struggle and also a beneficiary of the presidential amnesty programme.
“When you listen to his vision and template, it is obvious he knows what is best for the ex-agitators and the region as a whole. You can see the stability enjoyed in the region since he came on board,” Ibena said.
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