The Nation Newspaper

Tag: amnesty

  • Amnesty deadline not feasible, say ex-militant leaders

    Former militant leaders in the six Niger Delta states have said the December deadline for the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) is not feasible.

    Rising from their meeting in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, the former creek commanders urged President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the programme beyond this year.

    The former militants, who met under the auspices of the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI), hailed the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and PAP Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh, for performing well.

    According to them, the proposed timeline was not feasible because of non-payment of outstanding allowances and unfulfilled promises by the Federal Government.

    LPCDI’s National President Reuben Wilson (aka General Pastor) said the government should pay outstanding fees of amnesty students in foreign institutions before terminating the programme.

    In a statement after the meeting, Wilson said: “The Federal Government should release timeously the allocations to the Presidential Amnesty Office in order to pay the beneficiaries their monthly stipends on time. The PAP should be extended beyond December 2015 as earlier envisaged as the expiry date.

    “The incentives promised the ‘ex-Generals’ and leaders of the various militant camps by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in the form of lifeline, security, accommodation and mobility be fulfilled with immediate effect.

    “The Federal Government should pay, with immediate effect, the three-month outstanding payments for the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to the ex-agitators by the immediate past administration.

    “The Federal Government should also reconsider its termination of the pipeline surveillance contract and re-award same to the ex-agitators for proper and effective security of the pipelines. The Federal Government should expand the PAP to include Niger Delta youths in the creeks, who are currently not included in the programme.”

    The spokesman re-affirmed the confidence of the ex-agitators in the leadership of Brig.-Gen. Boroh.

    He said: “We believe and stand by him that he has the requisite experience and a robust knowledge to effectively pilot the affairs of the Amnesty Office, if given the necessary support and assistance by the Federal Government.

    “The PAP was initiated by the Yar’Adua administration to alleviate the plight of the Niger Delta people. It was designed to reach out to the people as compensation for their devastated environment and loss of livelihood due to oil exploration and exploitation activities…”

  • Amnesty students protest unpaid fees

    About 2,000 Niger Delta students of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) studying in the United Kingdom (UK) and other parts of the world have protested the non-payment of their tuition fees, in-training allowances and accommodation fees.

    The students, in a statement yesterday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, said their condtions had worsened since the appointment of the substantive Coordinator for the PAP, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh.

    The statement by their coordinators in Swansea University, UK, Mr. Elliot Yibakeni and Emomotimi Ziprebo of Birmingham City University, UK, noted that the Federal Government’s indifference to their plight had frustrated them.

    They said: “We are protesting on behalf of the over 2,000 abandoned and dejected Nigerian students of Niger Delta extraction studying in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

    “Sadly, since the appointment of Coordinator for PAP, Brig.-Gen. Boroh, nothing has changed for us; rather, the situation is becoming more precarious each passing day.

    “We wish to tell Nigerians and the international community that as we speak, Niger Delta students are frustrated and disillusioned because of uncertainty with regard to the prolonged delay and non-payment of tuition fees, in-training allowances, accommodation fees and other stipends that will aid our stay in foreign lands.

    “We are now the butt of jokes around the world, especially in the UK, and we have practically turned refugees and laughing stock in our cities, where the institutions are. We have just received the news of the death of one of our fellow students in the University of Belarus due to the present hardship faced by the students.”

    The students claimed that some of their colleagues on the Amnesty programme in Malaysia were being arrested and subjected to inhuman treatment because they could not meet their obligations.

  • Amnesty Office spokesman resigns

    The Head of Media and Communication of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Mr. Daniel Alabrah, has resigned his appointment.

    In his resignation letter yesterday addressed to the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta/Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd), Mr. Alabrah cited “irreconcilable differences” as well as “inexplicable antagonism and attack on his dignity and self-esteem” among other reasons for quitting.

    He explained that following recent developments in the office, the work environment was no longer conducive for the performance of his duties.

    At the moment, consultants in the Amnesty Office are owed four months’ salary arrears, a situation that has brought severe hardship on the staff.

    Alabrah, a senior journalist, was a deputy editor at The Sun before his appointment on June 4, 2012.

     

  • Amnesty Office spokesman resigns

    Amnesty Office spokesman resigns

    The Head of Media and Communication of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Mr. Daniel Alabrah, has resigned his appointment.

    In his resignation letter yesterday addressed to the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta/Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd), Mr. Alabrah cited “irreconcilable differences” as well as “inexplicable antagonism and attack on his dignity and self-esteem” among other reasons for quitting.

    He explained that following recent developments in the office, the work environment was no longer conducive for the performance of his duties.

    At the moment, consultants in the Amnesty Office are owed four months’ salary arrears, a situation that has brought severe hardship on the staff.

    Alabrah, a senior journalist, was a deputy editor at The Sun before his appointment on June 4, 2012.

     

  • Amnesty coordinator tasks banks on stipends payment

    Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh, has vowed to get to the roots of complaints arising from the resumption of payment of stipends to former Niger Delta agitators and beneficiaries of the programme.

    The PAP Coordinator, in a statement by the Head of Media and Communication, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, expressed displeasure over reports of complicity of some banks in the alleged short-changing of some of the beneficiaries by their leaders.

    The Amnesty Office, last Friday, commenced payment of the outstanding stipends of the former agitators. But the exercise has been trailed by allegations bordering on shortchanging of some of the former agitators, who claimed they did not receive the full amount of N65,000.

    Some of them were said to have besieged the banks they accused of complicity in the alleged racket to underpay them.

    “The banks involved in payment of the stipends should credit accounts of beneficiaries with their due entitlements and strictly in conformity with the mandates of the account. No bank should be involved in any form of cash payments or conduct any irregular payment activities outside their premises,” the coordinator said.

    Following this development, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta has opened channels of communication with the Central Bank of Nigeria and its banking supervision department and the security agencies to review the payment process.

    “It is not going to be business as usual. We are guided by the strict regime of transparency, accountability and prudence being enthroned by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. We will accordingly address every complaint about the programme on their merit and make the necessary adjustments. A verification committee is already in place to examine all immediate and pressing issues inhibiting the smooth operation of the programme.

    “Mr. President is committed to sustainable development of the Niger Delta and we have a duty to ensure the sustenance of peace and security of the region in order to achieve the government’s objective.”

  • Amnesty office commences payment of stipends

    Amnesty office commences payment of stipends

    The Presidential Amnesty Office, on Friday, commenced the payment of outstanding stipends to former agitators in the Niger Delta and beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

    The payment followed the approval granted by President Muhammadu Buhari for commencement of payment of the stipends and allowances to the beneficiaries.

    The Amnesty Office in a press release by the Head of Media and Communication, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Friday commenced the payment with the outstanding May stipend of N65,000 per beneficiary.

    “The outstanding stipends will be paid in batches. We have commenced payment with the outstanding May 2015 stipends. That of June and July will be paid afterwards.

    “The outstanding allowances and school/training fees of beneficiaries will be cleared at the end of the ongoing verification exercise of genuine claims. Hopefully, the other payments will commence soon once the verification team concludes its exercise,” Alabrah stated.

    On July 28, 2015, President Buhari appointed retired Brig-General Paul Tarila Boroh as the PAP Coordinator and Special Adviser on Niger Delta.

    On assumption of office the next day, the new Special Adviser/Coordinator immediately set up a seven-man committee to undertake a verification exercise of claims.

    Gen. Boroh said the approval granted by the President for commencement of payment was “heartwarming.”

    “Mr. President has by his approval demonstrated his commitment to strengthening of the Amnesty Programme. It is heartwarming that he graciously approved funds so as to quickly resolve the issues that have affected the smooth running of the programme.

    “Now beneficiaries whose training or studies have been affected can look forward to resuming their studies sooner than later. We are committed to a quick resolution of all outstanding issues, including the training fees,” Boroh said.

  • Amnesty tension

    Amnesty tension

    The myriad of problems facing the amnesty programme have left a sour taste in the mouth. More worrisome is the fact that the programme has been ingrained in administrative crisis barely a month of the inauguration of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. The cause could partly be the delay in appointing a new coordinator for the programme by the new government, but more importantly, the major problem is lack of institutional focus and discipline on the part of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government in its pursuit of the programme.

    Since May 29 handover date to a new government, the public gets besieged by the programme’s challenges such as absence of a coordinator which has recently been solved through the appointment of one by government; the sad issue of over 2,000 ex-militants being thrown out of the Liverpool’s John Moores University and other institutions in the United Kingdom. Also gloomy is the revelation that 13 amnesty trainee pilots have been dropped by Lufthansa following the failure of the Federal Government to pay up their fees, and the issue over N10billion unspent funds in the programme’s coffers, amongst others.

    The Amnesty Office is responsible, at government’s expense, for scholarship programmes of ex-militants’ education in countries, including the United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK), Poland, Russia, India, Ukraine and South Africa. It is unfortunate that militants under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua-initiated amnesty programme that commenced in August 2009 have reportedly not been paid their promised monthly stipend in the last three months due to absence of an authorising signatory. Kinsley Kuku, former Special Adviser to the immediate past President Jonathan on Niger Delta, and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), left office with his boss.

    The scheme was designed to assuage the militants to lay down their arms. But under the present scenario, most of the ex-militants are reportedly broke, indolent and restive, a development that could put the oil-rich communities, once again, on the edge. President Buhari on his inauguration day stated in his speech that the programme’s December 2015 terminal date, was sacrosanct: “The amnesty programme in the Niger Delta is due to end in December, but the government intends to invest heavily in the projects, and programmes currently in place.’ The evidence on ground is to the contrary so far.

    ‘It is good that a new administrator has been appointed for the Niger Delta Amnesty Scheme; but the government should forthwith fulfill whatever agreement it had with the ex-militants, notwithstanding the change of guard at the centre. After all, government is a continuum. We call on the new helmsman in the amnesty office to move fast to sort out all the pressing problems’ 

    We appreciate the fact that the government has appointed a new administrator for the amnesty office. We expect positive change to manifest earnestly in all spheres of the amnesty duties. We want to believe that the new appointment was not informed by the perceived veiled threat of Government Ekpemupolo, a.k.a. Tompolo, a notorious militant leader who recently called an aborted meeting of the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) ‘ex-generals’ and ‘commandants’. The halted meeting was to discuss the state of the nation in relation to the Niger Delta.

    It is good that a new administrator has been appointed for the Niger Delta Amnesty Scheme; but the government should forthwith fulfill whatever agreement it had with the ex-militants, notwithstanding the change of guard at the centre. After all, government is a continuum. We call on the new helmsman in the amnesty office to move fast to sort out all the pressing problems. He should also not run the place like a ‘one-man show. The time has come to discard the free cascading of the Jonathan era by putting in place a proper and sustainable system to run the amnesty programme.

     

  • Kinsmen to Boroh: Don’t betray Buhari’s confidence

    Kinsmen of the newly appointed Coordinator for the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh have urged him not to betray the confidence reposed in him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Boroh hails from Trofani in Sagbama, the Local Government Area of the incumbent Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson.

    The kinsmen under the aegis of the Trofani Patriotic Front (TPF) described Boroh as a seasoned professional, an administrator and hailed Buhari’s forthrightness for selecting him.

    The Chairman of TPF, Mr. Christopher Abarowei and Secretary, Mr. Sunday Koinyan, who spoke to journalists on Saturday in Yenagoa asked Bororh to use his wealth of experience to positively affect lives.

    Abarowei said: “Boroh is a true Kabowei son who has the highest level of integrity and dedication to the growth of his fatherland and therefore will not misplace the confidence reposed in him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “We implore the new coordinator to proactively address issues affecting the amnesty Programme as it concerns the payments of tuition fees and other allowances especially of youths studying abroad”.

    Abarowei urged Boroh to adopt novel approach in dealing with issues affecting the region and asked the youths to promote peace and unity.

    “We also call on ex-militants and their leaders to give maximum cooperation to Boroh in his new assignment to make the Niger Delta particularly the Ijaw nation a peaceful and prosperous place to stay and create investment opportunities for a better future,” Abarowei.

  • Amnesty Programme gets chief

    Amnesty Programme gets chief

    President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Brig.-Gen. P.T. Boroh (rtd) as the coordinator of Amnesty Programme for former Niger Delta militants.

    A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said Brig.-Gen. Boroh’s appointment takes immediate effect.

    He is taking over the responsibilities of the former Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Niger Delta, who also doubled as coordinator of the Amnesty Programme.

    The appointment of a new coordinator for the Amnesty Programme, the statement said, is to lead to the speedy resolution of recent hitches in its implementation such as the non-payment of outstanding allowances to ex-militants.

  • Ortom to seize illegal arms in Benue after amnesty

    Ortom to seize illegal arms in Benue after amnesty

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has vowed to seize all illegal  arms in the state after the expiration of the amnesty period. He urged  those in possession of arms to return them.

    The Governor also condemned the  murder of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Chief Atoza Hindan  and others in Katsina-Ala,  saying government would support security agencies in apprehending the killers.

    He made the condemnation in Gbajimba, his home town, in Guma Local Government Area, while addressing a large crowd that came  to celebrate the Sallah with him.

    Governor Ortom reiterated his resolve to seize all illegal arms in the state using the carrot and stick approach, adding that when the amnesty programme ends in  August,  security agents would begin to track and arrest possessors of such weapons.

    He described the assassination of Chief Hindan and others by hoodlums as unwarranted, despicable,  and unacceptable, pledging  that the culprits would be arrested and punished.

    He commisserated with victims’ families for losing loved ones and prayed that God would comfort them.

    The Governor enjoined the people to eschew crime and conflict with Fulani herdsmen,  promising to collaborate with security agents to apprehend criminals from among farmers and herders who instigate crisis.

    According to him, the establishment of ranches remained the permanent solution to farmers, herders’ conflict, noting that in the interim, the two parties must continue to dialogue and seek legal  means to end the conflict.

    He said he had started confronting the challenges of the state by paying full salaries, assuring that things would improve and his administration would be able to pay arrears and provide critical infrastructure.

    The Governor said the construction of the Daudu-Gbajimba road has been included in the supplementary budget being forwarded to the State House of Assembly, adding that, work would commence as soon as it is passed.

    He lamented the drop in enrolment into schools in the area and appealed to the people to take education serious as it remained the bedrock of a better future.

    In the same vein, the governor faulted a statement  credited to the former Lagos State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav accusing Ortom of paying lip service to matters of security.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and ICT, Mr. Tahav Agerzua described Tsav’s claim as “baseless and mischievous”.

    “The true situation on ground is the opposite of what Alhaji Tsav is said to have stated in the report. Since assumption of office Governor Ortom has made security one of his topmost priorities.

    “He has engaged with traditional rulers, the Joint Civilian Task Force, the Inspector General of Police, the association of cattle owners, as well as other security agencies on the matter.

    “The governor has been in regular touch with the state police commissioner, the director of the state security services and all heads of military and paramilitary formations in the state.

    “At his inauguration he announced an amnesty program for possessors of illegal arms in the state and gave them till the end of August, 2015 to surrender the arms or face arrest and confiscation. The carrot and stick approach has started yielding results as some have started turning in their arms as was displayed in the Benue Peoples House last week.

    “His efforts also averted reprisals in Zaki-Biam where a soldier and policeman were killed and led to the release of several persons who were kidnapped in other parts of the state. Governor Ortom’s constant advocacy on this matter has received wide media coverage.

    “He followed this up with the appointment of a security adviser and senior special assistant on security to handle security challenges in partnership with the formal and informal security network. Governor Ortom took above measures within his one and half month in office.

    “It might be necessary to remind the septuagenarian that the security challenges, especially murders, predate the Ortom administration and yet he did not raise his voice against the immediate past governor.

    “He was silent even when residents of Makurdi where he resides, including the late Gwa Jande of the Benue State University and Pastor Adoor of the Ministry of Land and Survey were assassinated.

    “One had thought that as a former security operative with his credentials and experience he could offer suggestions on how to curb crime in the state rather than making inciting and baseless statements.

    “The former police commissioner has been most unfair to Governor Ortom if indeed he made the comments attributed to him in the said newspaper,” Agerzua added.