…call on Nigerians, int’l community to discard allegations

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – AMID allegations, ex-militant leaders and stakeholders in the Niger Delta region, weekend, vowed to stand with the High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro; Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd; High Chief Kestin Pondi, and others.

Addressing a world press conference in Abuja, an ex-militant leader of Phase 3 ex-agitators, self-styled General Emma Satu, on behalf of Amnesty Phase 1, 2 & 3/Concerned Niger Delta youths read a communique where they accused some ex-militant leaders of allegedly being behind the smear campaign and propaganda against Tompolo, Otuaro, Pondi and others by recently organizing protesters.

Satu also said a coalition of youth from across the Niger Delta states staged a peaceful protest through some major streets in Abuja, to express their anger and concern to the Federal Government and the international community “to discredit, dishonour and paint a false narrative about Tompolo, Dr Dennis Otuaro and others to the international community.”

 He said: “We, the Concerned Niger Delta Youths are here to unanimously condemn the relentless propaganda and lies being peddled within and outside Nigeria, about High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro, High Chief Kestin Pondi and other management staff of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited over spurious and unfounded allegations of crimes against humanity, kidnapping, misappropriation of funds, and others.

“After our several deliberations with all stakeholders, including the representatives of the Ijaw National Congress, Ijaw Youth Council, and several ethnic-bssed organizations in our region and civil society groups, we hereby issue this communiqué to let the world know our position. 

“The international community should note that allegations of crimes against humanity, kidnapping, corruption, misappropriation of funds and other malpractices as posited by the protesters are a figment of their imaginations.”

Meanwhile, according to him, the pipeline surveillance contract to Tompolo and the Presidential Amnesty Programme under the able leadership of Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro have been very impactful to the youths in the region. 

“As Concerned Youths of Niger Delta, we are calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remain steadfast with the duo by giving them the necessary support and encouragement in the form of increased funding to achieve their mandate in line with his 8 Point Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We enjoin the federal government through the National Security Adviser, Service Chiefs and Inspector General of Police to double their effort towards all peace initiatives in the Niger Delta while also calling on the international community to give much needed support to the people of the region, whose means of livelihood, which includes rivers, farmlands and crops have been destroyed due to oil exploration activities of multinationals”, he added. 

Also speaking, the National Vice President, Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Alhaji Letugbene said, “We believe with the effort of Tompolo, the Nigeria economy is stabilized by the grace of God. The area of the Presidential Amnesty office, Otuaro is doing well. Otuaro since he assumed office, by the grace of God, has deployed 2,500 students to the higher institution.”