The Itsekiri youths that benefitted from the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) scholarship overseas have appealed to the coordinator of the programme, Prof. Charles Quaker Dokubo to save them from the ill-treatment they have been made to suffer from previous coordinators of the programme, noting that when Itsekiris were accommodated into the Amnesty programme in 2012, the then coordinator, Kinglsey Kuku claimed that the office lacked funds to send them Itsekiris abroad even when those from other ethnic nationalities were being favoured for prestigious engagements abroad.

The youths, in a statement by their Secretary, Mr Majemite Joe said: ‘’In 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan accepted the inclusion of Itsekiris in the Presidential Amnesty Programme, which had begun since 2009. The acceptance was not without struggle though it had the backing of the National Assembly through a motion raised by Hon. Daniel Reyenieju.

“With such legal instruments backing us, one would have thought the only responsibility of the programme is to treat us equally as others. But alas, our plight has been of a people whose path is laden with thorns and scorpions.

‘’When Itsekiris were accommodated into the amnesty programme, it was headed by Mr. Kinglsey Kuku. With an infinitesimal number of 500, and less than a quarter of that due to be sent to school in the first batch, he claimed that the office lacked funds to send Itsekiris abroad even when people from other ethnic nationalities were being favoured for prestigious qualifications abroad. But through wilful determination, our leaders funded the cost of sending Itsekiris abroad. His successor, Gen. Paul Boroh, had to be berated in the dailies before he could attend to the member representing Warri in the National Assembly. Even after promising that things will be different in his regime, Itsekiris, numbering about 300 are yet to receive any form of skill acquisition since 2012.

‘’After successfully completing their training abroad and returning, the Amnesty office has not shown solidarity with the Itsekiri scholars who performed excellently even when those of other ethnic backgrounds have been so recognized and rewarded.”