From Left: Gen. Andrew Azazi, Rtd; Chief Ufot Ekaette, Minister of Niger Delta Ministry representing Acting President Goodluck Jonathan; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State at the Post Amnesty programme.
AGAINST the backdrop of calls on the President Muhhamadu Buhari, to consider scrapping the amnesty programme or leave it as it is, Itsekiri Development Congress, IDC, has said only “an improved programme” can effectively address the agitations that led to the programme’s creation. IDC said: “The call for outright cancellation may not be too palatable given the pains of the Niger Delta people.
Equally, the call for sustenance of the programme as presently operated may not be the ultimate.”
In a statement by Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh, Chairman; Solomon Iwetan, Secretary, and Benson Ayokoste, Public Relations Officer, the group said if the incoming administration does not want to lose sight of the objectives of the amnesty programme, there was need for fairness and balance to give all the youths from the region a sense of belonging and retain the peace in Niger Delta, which are justifications for laying down their arms.
It said: “A group had 500 slots from which only 120 have benefited, whereas another has more than 5,000 beneficiaries. Payment has also been lopsided.
“We suggest that the leadership of the programme be overhauled and we recommend that, for fairness, an Itsekiri man should head the amnesty programme.”
The group also called for checkmating of what it called fraudulent practices in pipeline surveillance contracts, which it said had hindered the effective and efficient operation of the programme.
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