Group under the platform of the Niger Delta Peace Advocates has declared that the sponsored “campaign of calumny and character assassination” against Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu (rtd.), the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), by some faceless groups and individuals, will fail.
A statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Ebitimi Kurowei, and Publicity Secretary, Ekpe Ekpe Ekere, also expressed solidarity with the ongoing sanitisation exercise on the database of ex-agitators from the Niger Delta region by the PAP, saying it would end “monument fraud” in the system.
“Ordinarily, silence would have been a sufficient response to the relentless yet futile attempts at discrediting Gen. Ndiomu and his good works at PAP. However, the barrage of attacks against the hardworking Interim Administrator have recently become more organised, intense and desperate, thus demanding a retort from well-meaning groups and individuals who truly understand how the PAP functions generally and how it presently functions under the leadership of Ndiomu.
“In one of the most recent instalments of mischief makers’ hysterical attempt to discredit Ndiomu, a so-called group of Niger Delta elders, under the auspices too insignificant to be accorded an underserved mention, wrote a petition to the National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno, whose office supervises the PAP, seeking the removal of Ndiomu as PAP Interim Administrator. The group cited distraction by his related role as Chairman of the Special Investigative Panel on Oil Theft/Losses in Nigeria.
“Knowing what those distractors stand for and what their ultimate goal is, it is very easy to either dismiss their laughable and unfounded allegations against Ndiomu or tear them down by setting the record straight. And we have decided to do the latter,” the group stated.
The group while alleging that the PAP database has been compromised, a development unravelled by the auditor who discovered irregularities with payment of stipends to ex-agitators, also faulted what it called sponsored media attacks on Ndiomu.
“In November 2022, for instance, internal and external audits of PAP’s database uncovered monumental fraud in the payment of stipends. In a particular case, an individual was receiving stipends meant for 33 persons through fraudulent means! Ndiomu also initiated plans to renegotiate existing contracts with its vendors and ordered the immediate verification process of all delegates. Through those measures, the Interim Administrator was able to save over N1.5 billion,” it added.
The Niger Delta Peace Advocates said those attacking the sanitisation programme on the database are those benefitting from the shenanigans that have characterised the exercise, noting that those who have nothing to fear are in its full support.
“As a well-meaning group, we recognise Ndiomu’s efforts to clean up the ex-agitators’ database. We are certain that, although his efforts at sanitising the PAP have generated disquiet in some quarters and are causing panic among those who want the status quo to be retained for their selfish interests, those with nothing to hide have nothing to worry about.
“We, therefore, completely support Ndiomu’s decision to only pay contractors whose works have been completed and verified. We strongly advise that, rather than sponsor propaganda in the media to manipulate Ndiomu, contractors should focus on ensuring that they have all evidence of completed work as a requirement for payment”, it added.
They also lauded Ndiomu whose initiative led to the suspension of plans to end the programme over series of corrupt practices that have trailed it, attributing the giant stride to his outstanding leadership qualities, forthright assessment of the situation and courageous willingness to embark on needed reforms.
