The Ijaw Youths Network (IYN) has advised President Bola Tinubu to disregard the appeal made by certain stakeholders to abolish the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
The IYN expressed that those demanding the termination of the PAP are disturbed by the prevailing peace and stability in the region and are evidently lacking in patriotism and genuine concern for the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.
In a statement signed by its President, Frank Ebikabo, and the Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, the IYN mentioned that the push initiated by ethnic nationalists is intended to divert the attention of the new leadership of the PAP and should not be taken seriously by thoughtful individuals. The IYN was responding to remarks made by Frank Tietie, who alleged corruption within the PAP and claimed that the agency had not achieved anything despite the substantial funds allocated to it by the federal government.
The group denounced Tietie’s assertion that only one ethnic group was asserting ownership of the PAP, emphasizing that what the Niger Delta requires at this juncture is not the propagation of divisive ethnic sentiments but rather a united effort towards development.
According to the IYN, the PAP has significantly contributed to maintaining peace in the oil-rich Niger Delta through its meticulously planned initiatives. The group highlighted that numerous former militants and individuals from affected communities are excelling in various sectors of the economy after undergoing training through the PAP.
The IYN further emphasized that many beneficiaries of the program are now gainfully employed in professions such as air traffic control, flight instruction, aircraft maintenance, piloting, underwater welding, among others, across the states of the Niger Delta. The group asserted that without the PAP, many of these individuals would not have had the opportunity to receive such high-level training.
The IYN maintained that several other beneficiaries who were trained and empowered through the program are thriving in diverse fields such as fashion design, unisex salon management, fish farming, baking, confectionery, rice production, hairdressing, cement and building materials, among others.
The group stated: “While we do not wish to bring to light the unpleasant inter-ethnic conflicts in the Niger Delta at this moment, we feel compelled to denounce the deplorable act of using ethnicity as a guise to attack the PAP. What the Niger Delta and the nation need is unity and a collective effort towards development. As a region, we have endured significant hardship and cannot afford to be held back by such tactics.”
“We have taken note of the desperate plea made by Mr. Frank Tietie, purportedly a Niger Delta activist, who called for the abolition of the PAP. Tietie claimed that the PAP has failed and should be discontinued due to corruption within the agency. Furthermore, the so-called Niger Delta activist alleged that only one ethnic group had laid claim to the Presidential Amnesty Office, which is unfounded and misleading.
“He also asserted that the federal government had allocated N500 billion to the PAP without any tangible results. It is hard to believe that a genuine activist would lament the federal government’s allocation of N500 billion to the PAP. The self-proclaimed stakeholder failed to acknowledge the funds allocated to the Ministry of Niger Delta and the Niger Delta Development Commission, and why these entities should be scrapped for corruption if that is the benchmark for agency survival.
“While we are not quick to accuse anyone of selective memory loss, we cannot forget that during the peak of the armed conflict before the establishment of the Presidential Amnesty in 2009, those advocating for the abolition of the program labeled the ex-agitators and their Ijaw ethnic group as instigators. However, individuals from outside the region recognized the underdevelopment, suffering, pain, and frustration that led to deep-seated grievances in the oil-producing areas.”
The group emphasized that the federal government did not implement a selective, ethnicity-based amnesty in the Niger Delta, as evidenced by the facts.
The group reiterated that it was mischievous for anyone to attempt to mislead the nation by promoting the false narrative that the 30,000 ex-agitators enrolled in the Program were selected based on ethnicity.
“Nigerians are aware that the Federal Government of Nigeria did not implement a selective amnesty for ex-militants in the Niger Delta. The 30,000 ex-agitators included in the program are not enrolled based on their language. Mr. Tietie can consult his kinsman, General Lucky Aralile (rtd), who served as the pioneer head of the PAP.
The group urged the current leadership of the PAP to avoid distractions and focus on effectively fulfilling the mandate to sustain peace and create an optimal environment for economic growth and development in the region.
