Tag: Dr. Dennis Otuaro

Niger Delta stakeholders comprising elders, leaders, and veterans of the region’s self-determination agitations have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to disregard the campaign of calumny against the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro.

The advice is contained in a petition addressed to President Tinubu and copied to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Director General NFIU, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The letter was endorsed by Mr. Kime Engozu, Hendricks Opukeme, Ari Sylvester, Elder Kennedy Orubebe, Welman Warri, Cooler Hart, Ibiba Don Pedro, Felix Tuodolo, Elfrida Olungwe, Emmanuel  Bristol Alagbarigha, Tonbra Kasikoro, Comrade Alagoa Morris Madam Primrose Oringeriya-Kpokposei, among others.

They said: “We urge you (President Tinubu) and the general public to disregard the malicious allegations made against the Presidential Amnesty Programme and its leadership. 

“The programme remains committed to its mission of promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development in the Niger Delta region. 

“We will continue to work tirelessly with other stakeholders to ensure that the programme’s objectives are achieved, despite the attempts by detractors to undermine its progress. 

“In the light of the recent malicious allegations against Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the administrator of the PAP, we feel compelled to set the records straight. 

“As stakeholders, we can attest to the programme’s transparency, accountability, and commitment to its stated objectives. We urge you and the public to disregard these baseless allegations and instead focus on the programme’s numerous achievements and contributions to peace and development in the region.

“We write to express our utmost disappointment and outrage at the recent spurious allegations made by certain ex-agitators. These baseless accusations are nothing short of a calculated attempt to discredit and undermine the recent progress made by the programme.

Read Also: PAP boss Otuaro pledges human-centered reforms for Niger Delta development

“The PAP is a complex initiative aimed at reintegrating former agitators into society and promoting sustainable development in the Niger Delta region. Since its inception, the programme has made significant strides in providing education, vocational training, and economic empowerment to its beneficiaries. Dr. Otuaro’s leadership has been instrumental in revitalising the programme and ensuring its effectiveness.

“We can state categorically that the allegations of misappropriation and financial impropriety made against Dr. Otuaro are unfounded. The payments made to stakeholders were legitimate and in accordance with standard accounting principles and practices of the Federal Government, which you can verify. 

“These payments were part of the Administrator’s efforts to engage with stakeholders and promote peace and stability in the region.

“It is evident that the allegations are motivated by a desire to discredit Dr. Otuaro and the programme. Certain ex-agitators who failed to secure appointments as Administrator of the PAP are now seeking to exact revenge and undermine the progress made by the programme. 

Their actions are nothing short of a campaign of calumny, aimed at destroying the reputation of Dr. Otuaro and the programme.”

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Administrator Dr. Dennis Otuaro has restated his commitment to the sustenance of peace in the Niger Delta and the development of the region.

Otuaro said that PAP, under his watch, would not relent in carrying out the programme’s mandate in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA).

He spoke while responding to an award given to him by some youths in recognition of the quality service delivery at the PAP through its robust educational and vocational schemes.

The youths, under the auspices of the Okerenkoko Federated Communities, also lauded Otuaro for the stakeholders’ engagement, peace-building processes and policy of inclusivity being done by PAP, among others.

Read Also: Why we had to remove fuel subsidy, by Tinubu

Receiving the award, Otuaro expressed appreciation to the youth leaders for recognising his modest contribution, which he noted, would spur him to work harder.

He told the youths that his only interest was to serve the people of the region, urging them to remain committed to peace-building and progress in the region and reject being used by merchants of instability and chaos.

Otuaro said: “I want to thank you for honouring me with an award in recognition of my service to the people of the Niger Delta. For me, it’s all about service to our people, and that’s what His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, wants.

“I urge you to always work for the peace, security and stability of our region. We need peace in the region. The Niger Delta is our region, we have no other region.

“So, you have a duty to safeguard the region from disruptive elements that are out to cause destabilisation. I’m grateful for your gesture.”

Leaders of the group from communities in the Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State said the recognition accorded the PAP boss was unanimous.

They stated this while honouring Otuaro with an ‘Outstanding Excellence Award’ in recognition of his “commitment to providing outstanding service to the Niger Delta” at Okerenkoko during the New Year celebrations.

The community youth leaders, including Famous Ololobou, Ijoukumor Oturubo and Samuel Ijeleba, who spoke separately, urged Otuaro to continue to do his best for the growth and development of the region, despite the unnecessary distractions by his detractors.

According to them, those working against Otuaro were undermining President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which the PAP helmsman was implementing through the programme to foster sustainable peace, stability and security in the region.

They advised anti-Niger Delta elements to stop their ill-advised activities and allow peace to reign in the region.