Ex-militants in Akwa Ibom State have urged President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu to set up a presidential committee to review the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), when he assumes office on May 29.
Coordinator, Phase 2 of the Amnesty Programme in the state, Mr. Imoh Okoko, told The Nation yesterday in Uyo that large-scale corruption and nepotism had allegedly hampered its success.
He said PAP had been dominated by the Ijaw to the exclusion of ex-agitators from Akwa Ibom State, who participated in the Niger Delta struggle and were duly granted amnesty.
He said the Presidential Committee should among other things ensure that people from all Niger Delta states had a stake in the running of the Amnesty Programme.
“The Amnesty Programme was a well-conceived initiative by the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, but unfortunately, the scheme has been hijacked by our Ijaw brothers.
“The Federal Government should ensure the appointment of the Special Adviser/Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme is rotated among Niger Delta states. This is necessary because of the injustices in the programme.”
“For instance, no ex-agitator from Akwa Ibom State, who was originally listed for the Amnesty Programme, has been trained and empowered here in Nigeria or overseas. Most of the beneficiaries are the Ijaw of Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta states.
“The Amnesty Office keeps importing names of beneficiaries, mostly the Ijaw, who did not take part in the struggle. So much money has been stolen by the authorities of the Amnesty Office.
“The N65,000 pittance the office pays ex-militants is inadequate and should be reviewed. The programme is being used as a conduit pipe to defraud Nigerians.
“The incoming government should ensure all listed ex-militants are trained and empowered and the programme scrapped after six months”, Okoko said.
He urged the incoming President to look into the plight of the Niger Delta and ensure that appointments in agencies of government dealing with the region were based on merit and capacity.