Ex-militant leaders on Friday faulted a plan by some aggrieved beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) to protest against the scheme’s Coordinator, Prof. Charles Dokubo over alleged corrupt practices.
The leaders under the auspices of the Environmental Rights Advocates Organisation of Niger Delta (ERAOND) said the move was unnecessary, misplaced, wicked and selfish.
In a statement signed by Chief Reuben Wilson, Godgift Ayabowei, Ezikiel Akpasibowei and Alex Watchman, the leaders called on the aggrieved persons to stop the plan.
The statement said: “It is unfair and unhealthy for us to be protesting against our own. We should learn to be our brothers’ keeper. We are calling on those involved to cancel the protest so as not to rubbish the good work of the Amnesty Office.
“The Amnesty office under Prof. Charles Dokubo has been attending promptly to payment of stipends. We have not seen what he has done wrong to deserve the plan embarrassment. He has shown that he has a listening ear to all that is affecting the amnesty beneficiaries”.
The leaders called on the aggrieved beneficiaries not to allow themselves to be used for politics within and outside the amnesty office.
“The Amnesty office has been showing love to beneficiaries and the planned protest is uncalled for. Our people should learn from our past mistakes”, they said.