PAP Crisis: Ex-Agitators Warn Tinubu—Sack Otuaro Or Risk Losing Niger Delta Support In 2027
By Passman Akpos
A fresh call for the removal of the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has emerged from the Niger Delta, with concerned ex-agitators accusing the programme’s current leadership of losing sight of its original mandate.
The call was made by Tare Deseimoh, who described himself as a concerned voice for Niger Delta ex-agitators and said he was speaking on behalf of many aggrieved beneficiaries across the region.
Deseimoh urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately remove Otuaro and appoint what he described as a more compassionate and visionary administrator capable of restoring confidence among beneficiaries.
He also demanded an increase in the monthly stipends paid to PAP beneficiaries, arguing that rising living costs have made the existing support inadequate.
According to him, it is regrettable that a programme established to consolidate peace in the oil-rich Niger Delta has, in his view, become increasingly disconnected from the people whose sacrifices contributed to the peace process.
“It is a deep pity and a sad reflection of our current reality that the Presidential Amnesty Programme has fallen into the hands of questionable characters,” Deseimoh alleged.
He particularly questioned the influence of individuals advising the PAP leadership, referring to Aaron Opudu, popularly known as “General Aroni,” and making allegations about his past.
Deseimoh alleged that some individuals who did not participate in the original struggle are now occupying influential positions around the programme, while those he described as genuine freedom fighters are being neglected.
“How can anyone in their right mind advise Dr. Dennis Otuaro against increasing the monthly stipends of ex-agitators?” he asked.
Deseimoh argued that the welfare of beneficiaries should not be sacrificed in the name of human-capital-development initiatives.
He stressed that he was not opposed to education, vocational training or other empowerment programmes, but insisted that such programmes should complement rather than replace welfare support for ex-agitators.
“Nobody in the Niger Delta is against educating young people or providing them with quality training. Human capital development is welcome and necessary, but it must not be used as an excuse to abandon the very people who paid the ultimate price for the peace and stability that made the Amnesty Programme possible,” he said.
The Niger Delta advocate further accused the Otuaro administration of failing to adequately address the economic difficulties confronting ex-agitators and their families.
He claimed that the refusal to increase stipends amid inflation could deepen frustration among beneficiaries and potentially undermine the peace achieved in the region.
Deseimoh said the Federal Government should recognize that the stability of the Niger Delta remains important to Nigeria’s economy and should therefore ensure that former agitators and their families are not pushed into severe hardship.
He also called on President Tinubu to investigate the administration and management of the PAP and determine whether its current leadership is delivering on the programme’s mandate.
According to him, the President should not wait until widespread dissatisfaction among beneficiaries develops into a larger political or security challenge.
“Over 30,000 ex-agitators and their families will be bitterly angry at President Tinubu, which could lead them to withhold their support and votes in upcoming elections,” he warned.
Deseimoh maintained that the monthly stipend remains an important component of the post-amnesty arrangement and should be reviewed in line with current economic realities.
He also rejected arguments suggesting that beneficiaries should simply rely on training and empowerment opportunities rather than direct welfare support.
“Denying these beneficiaries their fair share while keeping the expanded budget at the top is both unjust and unacceptable,” he said.
On comments attributed to General Aroni in defence of Otuaro’s policies, Deseimoh argued that telling beneficiaries that stipends were insignificant in the current economic environment amounted to disregarding the realities facing ordinary families.
“Telling beneficiaries that stipends do not matter in today’s harsh economic climate, while simultaneously refusing to adjust those stipends to match inflation, is a direct insult to the intelligence of the Niger Delta people,” he said.
Deseimoh further warned that the peace currently enjoyed across many parts of the Niger Delta should not be taken for granted.
He said the relative stability in the region was achieved through years of sacrifice, dialogue and engagement between the Federal Government and former militants, arguing that policies that increase economic hardship could threaten confidence in that arrangement.
“An administrator who truly cares about sustainable peace would prioritize both immediate welfare and long-term empowerment,” he said.
The call for Otuaro’s removal comes amid continuing debates over the direction, funding and implementation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, particularly its balance between monthly welfare support, education, vocational training and broader empowerment initiatives.
Deseimoh concluded by urging President Tinubu to intervene before what he described as growing dissatisfaction becomes more difficult to manage.
“President Tinubu must act decisively now by sacking Dennis Otuaro out of office and appointing a compassionate, visionary leader who will honor agreements, respect the rights of ex-agitators and bring true development to the Niger Delta,” he said.
The allegations and calls contained in Deseimoh’s statement represent his position and those he says he speaks for. The PAP leadership and the individuals mentioned in the allegations would have an opportunity to respond to the claims.
