“Perela To Tinubu: Remove Otuaro Now, Open PAP Books To Forensic Investigators”
by Passman Akpos
Apostle Ezekiel Daniel Perela has called for the immediate removal of Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, alongside a comprehensive forensic investigation into the financial management of the programme under his leadership.
Perela made the demand while expressing deep concern over what he described as worsening hardship among ex-agitators and their families despite a significant increase in the annual budget of the Amnesty Programme.
Drawing from the famous philosophical observation attributed to Aristotle that money and power can reveal a person’s true character, Perela argued that the current situation in PAP raises serious questions about leadership, accountability and the management of public resources.
According to him, Otuaro rose to prominence through the Niger Delta struggle but has allegedly failed to translate that background into meaningful improvements in the lives of former agitators.
«“Otuaro, who claimed to be a freedom fighter and a man from the creeks of the Niger Delta region, is now seen as the one who wants the ex-agitators to continue to be in pain with their families,” Perela stated.»
Perela accused the PAP leadership of abandoning the very people the programme was established to rehabilitate, describing the administrator’s approach as insensitive to the economic realities confronting ex-agitators and their families.
He likened Otuaro’s leadership style to that of a modern-day Pharaoh, alleging that the administration has shown little empathy toward communities and beneficiaries struggling with economic hardship.
The criticism also extended to the administration of PAP’s finances.
Perela pointed to the increase in the programme’s annual budget from ₦65 billion to ₦115 billion, arguing that such an increase should ordinarily translate into improved welfare, stronger empowerment programmes and better rehabilitation opportunities for ex-agitators.
He questioned why, despite the increased allocation, monthly stipends have not been significantly improved and why some vocational training and empowerment initiatives allegedly remain inadequate.
Perela further alleged that PAP resources are being concentrated around individuals connected to those in positions of influence, describing the situation as a betrayal of the original objectives of the Amnesty Programme.
However, the allegations remain claims by Perela and would require verification through documentary evidence and independent investigation
Against this backdrop, Perela urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately relieve Otuaro of his position and appoint a new administrator capable of restoring confidence in the programme.
He also called on relevant anti-corruption agencies to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit of PAP’s finances, covering transactions, contracts, disbursements and other financial activities undertaken during Otuaro’s tenure.
According to him, the proposed investigation should establish how billions of naira allocated to the programme were spent and whether the expenditure complied with financial regulations and the objectives of PAP.
Perela maintained that accountability should not be interpreted as an attack on the Niger Delta or the Amnesty Programme but as a necessary step toward protecting the interests of the region’s youths and former agitators.
He further charged Niger Delta youths, activists and community leaders to remain committed to demanding transparency, equity and genuine empowerment.
He insisted that the struggle for economic justice must continue peacefully, arguing that the hardship confronting former agitators cannot be ignored simply because individuals who once participated in the struggle have attained positions of authority.
The call comes amid continuing debates over the management, funding and effectiveness of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, which was established in 2009 as part of efforts to address militancy in the Niger Delta through disarmament, rehabilitation and reintegration.
For Perela, the central question is no longer simply how much money is allocated to PAP, but whether the resources are producing measurable improvements in the lives of the people the programme was created to serve.
