By Emem Idio, Yenagoa

The immediate past Spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe has warned mischief makers against unnecessary media attacks and perceived campaigns of calumny against the Interim Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Major Gen Barry Ndiomu, retd.

Ekerefe, who stated this against the backdrop of alleged financial wrongdoing levelled against the Presidential Amnesty Programme by an online tabloid over payment done to beneficiaries of the programme through their leaders in 2023, described the allegations as the handiwork of mischief makers.

An online medium has recently claimed in a report that the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta was among Government MDAs that have violated the financial transparency laws by authorizing the payment of huge sums of public funds into private accounts.

In a statement yesterday, he said the claims of the online publication lack due diligence, adding that the report does not recognize the fact that PAP which is under the remit of the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta is a classified security programme that serves as an instrument for peacebuilding and stability in the Niger Delta region.

According to him, despite attempts to compare the payments made by the Amnesty Office to beneficiaries and their leaders, the claims of alleged financial wrongdoing are frivolous and a clear attempt to cause disaffection among its delegates and stakeholders.

Ekerefe, who is also the leader of the Niger Delta advocacy group, New Era Movement, expressed concern that the report could also trigger unrest in the peaceful Niger Delta region.

He said: “It is an effort in futility to compare payments to beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme through their leaders and the controversial incident of the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu.

“This to me is shameful, mischievous and looks like a paid job that was poorly executed.

“The administration of Ndiomu at the Presidential Amnesty office has raised the bar in the areas of probity, accountability, and proper management of resources which has led to several achievements, including the zero cases of protests and controversy over the delay of monthly payments of stipends?.”

The former IYC spokesman commended Ndiomu for using the instruments of his office to contribute immensely to the sustainable peace in the Niger Delta region when compared to the rest regions of the country where violent crimes and insecurity have taken an upsurge.

He said PAP has recently recorded success in the training of 35 beneficiaries who have completed their cadet pilots training program in the world-class aviation training organizations (ATOs), in Johannesburg, South Africa.

His words, “Thirty-five beneficiaries out of the 75 shortlisted under the Presidential Amnesty Programme’s Aviation Resuscitation Scheme have graduated from specialized training courses that will see their Private/Commercial Pilot licenses type-rated in a variety of aircraft equipment, ranging from B737 Classic, ERJ-145, and ATR-72.

“It takes a leader with great vision to doggedly pursue the quality implementation of the PAP Aviation Resuscitation Program.