A Niger-Delta Activist, a Social Commentator and Leader of the Coalition of the Niger-Delta Ex-agitators, Passman Akpos, has advised the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Ahmed Bola Tinubu to as a matter of urgency appoint a Special Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme.
In a mail made available to Tarakirivoice on Wednesday, the Activist suggest the reason why is necessary to immediately appoint a Special Adviser for the Programme.
” The Amnesty programme is a critical interventionist parastatal, that needs special attention by the Presidency, and as such, the president need an Adviser that should oversee the programme, and will be giving the President timely advice, for the success of the Programme and for the benefit of the Nigeria State”
“The programme has not had a Special Adviser for the past Buhari Administration, instead, it as been Interim Administrators”.
” The last Interim Administrator, on the person of Maj.Gen Barry Tariye Ndiomu has performed below expectations, he has been the worst and hated manager of the Programme since it’s inception”.
” Since he assumed the Leadership of the Programme, the regular Educational scholarship Programme for offshore and onshore students, paused. Also, vocational training went into oblivion”
“Instead, the first month he assumed office, he delisted over 3,000 genuine delegates from the Programme, calling them names, that, they are defrauding the programme”
” It is no hidden fact, that the appointment of Ndiomu was to help terminate the programme. Who in his right frame of mind thinks of ending the Amnesty programme when it has not achieve the purpose of it establishment as stipulated in the blue print?”
” The Interim Administrators were just tools in the hands of the National Security Adviser in the person of Mohammed Babagana Monguno in the Buhari Administration to manipulate the programme for his selfish gain, on the detriment of the real owners of the Programme”
” The Niger-Delta is still the economic bedrock of the Nigeria state, the resources of the region as been the enabler of the country”
“But, the Niger-Delta still remains underdeveloped, suffers environmental degradation and impoverishment. The Amnesty Programme to some extend had a multiplier effect, if properly implemented will ameliorate the pains of the people”
” Stop the Amnesty Programme for a day and see how the economy of the country will turn out”
” I emplore His Excellency to immediately appoint a Special Adviser on the Niger-Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme with good coordinator”
” Through the Adviser, reasonable and selfless delegates from all the three phases of the Programme be appointed to assist the S.A to coordinate the programme, let the S.A be a grass root person, who understand the struggle in the Niger-Delta that can come to the level of the people he’s cordinating”
“Meet with the Leadership of every Camp, putting to mind the perculiarity of the different phases of the Programme”
” Making sure, the owners of the Programme, which are the Ex-agitators to speak for themselves on what is good for them”
” I believe the list of the 20 Advisers sent to the Senate for approval, the name of the Special Adviser to the president on Niger-Delta Amnesty Programme is included”
” Base on the removal of subsidy, as the presidency is considering on the upward review of the minimum wage, let the stipends of delegates of the presidential Amnesty programme and other benefits be reviewed for the success of the Programme” he noted.
