By Emmanuel Nduka
Following wide consultations between the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (Rtd) and Ex-Agitators across the Niger Delta region, and subsequent feedback to the Federal Government, President Muhammadu Buhari has shelved the idea of winding down the programme.
With this announcement, the current administration is now determined to ensure that the programme is re-engineered towards ensuring that its original mandate is fully realised, culminating in a gradual phased winding down of the programme in the near future.
The development which has sparked wide jubilation in the Niger Delta region, was confirmed by Gen. Ndiomu at the weekend.
As contained in a statement issued by PAP’s Media Consultant, Donu Kogbara, Ndiomu thanked the Buhari-led Government for buying into the advice of critical stakeholders across the region to sustain the programme.
Gen. Ndiomu added that all responsible stakeholders in the region had opposed the winding down and jointly shared his view that the programme needs to be totally refocused and restructured.
He added that Government weighed the arguments presented to them, based on their merits, and decided to suspend the planned shutdown. He said the move further demonstrates the sensitivity of the President to issues affecting the Niger Delta region.
“The Federal Government has heard the concerns of Niger Delta people and, with our best interests at heart, has decided to shelve an unwanted termination agenda and transform PAP into a more sanitized, transparent, efficient, robust and sustainable entity.
“The decision was taken after the feelings of stakeholders and people of the region were communicated to the government and proves that the Buhari’s administration will not do anything to jeopardize the peace in the Niger Delta.
“We call on all stakeholders to sustain the peace in the region and help the new administration reform, refocus and reposition the programme for optimum performance,” Ndiomu stated.
The plans to wind down the Amnesty Programme came just as Ndiomu took over reigns at the Amnesty Office, and was already poised to right the wrongs that have hindered the programme from living up to its mandate.
