By Emmanuel Nduka
The Niger Delta Integrity Group (NDIG) has described calls for the removal of Major General Barry Ndiomu, the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) as “the highest height of political rascality and insensitivity.”
The position of the group was conveyed in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday by its Convener, Dr. Boma Horsfall.
“The attention of the Niger Delta Integrity Group (NDIG) has been drawn to a news statement sponsored by one Jonah Abeki who claims to be a member of the Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), calling for the removal of Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (retd), as the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).”
The statement noted that the NDIG is aware of attempts by some political aspirants to get the PAP office to sponsor their elections, but such requests have been turned down by the Interim Administrator who for obvious reasons, have refused to politicize the office.
According to the statement, the group is not suprised by the recent attack on the person of Ndiomu, saying the sponsors are trying to get him out of the way since he has refused to do their bidding which is not part of PAP’s mandate.
The group remarked that General Ndiomu is not a regular type of political appointee, but a brilliant professional who is determined to carry out the responsibilities given to him by the Federal Government, therefore, going personal and accusing Ndiomu of being involved in politics by supporting his sister is a baseless assumption that is bereft of facts.
The NDIG said it is also aware that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva who is the leader of the APC in the state, recently visited Ndiomu and spoke highly of his capacity and wondered why some persons who claim to be members of the APC in the state will take a position different from that of their leader.
The NDIG further remarked that within his short time in office, the achievements of Major General Ndiomu Retd are already speaking volumes and called on critical stakeholders of Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta at large to support the Interim Administrator to focus on his good works and deliver on his mandate.
