Stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta under the auspices of Ex-Agitators Foundation (EAF) have passed a vote of confidence on the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) and the head of Federal Government’s Special Investigative Panel (SIP) on Oil Theft, Major General Barry Ndiomu (Rtd), expressing confidence in his capacity to lead the offices.
The Foundation however expressed worry over what it called growing sponsored campaign of calumny against the Interim Administrator, appealing to those behind it to refrain from acts capable of truncating the peace in the area.
The EAF which is made up of 90 percent of those who were beneficiaries of the first phase Presidential Amnesty Programme from various states of the Niger Delta, stressed that Ndiomu has come under needless and unwarranted attacks following his dogged resilience in making oil theft in the region a thing of the past with the milestones he has recorded so far.
In a statement on Friday, the Foundation particularly accused Movement for the Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta (MSDND) of spearheading the campaign the tarnish Ndiomu’s image despite several achievements he has recorded in the short period he has headed the PAP.
The statement jointly signed by HRH. Henry Binididogan Ekes, National president of Ex-Agitators Foundation (EAF), Msc Opia Joshua, the National spokesperson of EAF and coordinators from all Niger Delta states says Ndiomu’s choice for PAP and SIP by President Muhammadu Buhari has brought about progress and development in Niger Delta.
“Maj.Gen. Barry Ndiomu (Rtd) is a man of integrity and we have full confidence in his ability to make the ex-agitators of the amnesty programme self-sufficient and well-rounded citizens of our beloved nation.
“Since his inception into office, the retired but not tired General has had multiple productive interfaces with government and corporate agencies to ensure proper reintegration of delegates of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. He has also ensured prompt and regular payments of stipends and allowances of Amnesty beneficiaries.
“Furthermore, he has restored sanity and transparency into the Programme beside demonstrating sufficient commitment towards the sustenance of peace and development of Niger Delta region”, the Foundation said.
It stated further, “It is on the strength of this outstanding performance that we hereby pass a vote of confidence on him and call on the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, to continue to repose confidence in Ndiomu’s ability to effectively chair the Special Investigative Panel (SIP) on oil theft and also refocus the Presidential Amnesty Programme as the Administrator.”
It appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore the call for Ndiomu’s removal, noting that those behind it are individuals who have been displaced by innovative policies and programmes of the Interim Administrator to phase out corruption that has inhibited the programme’s progress in the past.
The Foundation also urged the PAP boss not to be deterred by the attacks but remain focused bringing sanity to the programme as well as fighting oil theft in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s mandate.
