Hands off PAP office or risk Niger Delta peace, Niger Delta ex-agitators’ caution reps and politicians

By Philip Onome

The Phase 1 Ex-agitators’ leaders under the umbrella of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators’ Forum, have issued an unequivocal condemnation of what they describe as a well-orchestrated politically motivated witch-hunt against the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro.

This stern warning follows a 72-hour ultimatum issued by the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC), threatening to issue a warrant for his arrest should he fail to appear before the committee over findings from an Amnesty Audit Report dated 2021.

In a detailed communique released Monday after a high-level meeting in Bayelsa State and signed by the National President and Senior Special Assistant to Delta State governor on security, General Aroni Oputu (aka Owutebi 1 of Niger Delta), ex-agitators’ leaders emphasized that the audit report cited “predates Dr. Otuaro’s appointment by several years,” rendering it irrelevant and inappropriate to use as a basis to malign the current PAP leadership.

The statement reads in parts; “Any attempt to weaponize a 2021 report to discredit a 2024 appointee is not only misleading but also raises critical questions about the ulterior motives behind this aggressive probe. Since assuming office earlier this year, Dr. Otuaro has revitalized dialogue, fostered stability across the Niger Delta, and contributed significantly to boosting national oil production.”

The ex-agitators further stressed that these gains should be celebrated and supported, not undermined by reprisals or politically motivated attacks. “Targeting a key figure responsible for fostering peace and stability threatens to reverse the hard-won progress made in the region and could ignite latent tensions detrimental to national security,” the statement warned.

Notably, the communique underscored the unique nature of the Presidential Amnesty Office, established by a special presidential directive as a security-focused initiative and not through legislative channels, thereby necessitating “deliberate, cautious, and responsible oversight.” The threat of arrest, the ex-agitators claim, risks inflaming already fragile peace, potentially destabilizing the entire Niger Delta.

Reflecting on the broader political context, the ex-agitators questioned the House of representatives’ priorities, saying; “What has the house representative members done on the incessant killing and kidnapping of innocent Nigerians across the country? Instead of them to focus on how to clear Boko Haram from the surface of our country, arrest the sponsors and financiers of Boko Haram; they are busy calling for the arrest of a man that has performed since his assumption of office. This is unacceptable.”

“The establishment of the presidential amnesty programme is born out of the fight for resource control. We were in the creeks fighting for resource control, we were in the forefront of the struggle.”

The ex-agitators further urged the legislators to shift focus from perceived selective aggression against the Ijaw nation, the ethnic group predominantly affected by the amnesty, to confronting the country’s urgent challenges such as insecurity, kidnappings, and rampant killings across Nigeria.

The group also alleged that Dr. Otuaro’s ongoing efforts to clean up the PAP payroll “have unsettled vested interests profiting illegitimately,” triggering sponsored petitions and orchestrated protests against him. They called on the legislature to desist from being manipulated as instruments for personal or political vendettas, especially amid Nigeria’s escalating crises.

The ex-agitators further called for fairness, prudence, and nationalistic commitment from the House of Representatives in exercising oversight of the PAP. They cautioned that any reckless action threatening the current peace umbrella in the Niger Delta would not be taken lightly, affirming their unwavering support for Dr. Otuaro and vowing to resist intimidation.

“Peace in the Niger Delta is a vital national asset that remains resilient under Dr. Otuaro’s leadership. The House must exercise restraint and fairness with a genuine sense of national duty. Anything less jeopardizes not just the region but Nigeria’s overall cohesion and security,” the communique concluded.