Itsekiri Participation in Amnesty Programme a Concession, Not a Right; Dr. Dennis Otuaro Volunteer Media Team Refutes Baseless Allegations Against PAP Administrator

Our attention has been drawn to a coordinated and malicious smear campaign orchestrated by pseudo Itsekiri groups, such as the non-existent "Warri Youth Council," targeting the esteemed Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro. This statement is intended to correct the records, expose the revisionist history being peddled, and unequivocally state that the ongoing attacks are driven by primordial ethnic sentiments, not by any legitimate grievance. The Presidency and all well-meaning stakeholders in the Niger Delta can attest to the credible, transformative, and inclusive leadership Dr. Otuaro has brought to the PAP.rnrnIt is a matter of public record, accessible to any diligent researcher, that the Itsekiri nation initially distanced itself from and openly rejected the Presidential Amnesty offered by the late, great President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. While Ijaw youths and other ethnic groups embraced the path to peace, laid down their arms, and committed to the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) process, Itsekiri leaders took a different stance.rnrnThey issued numerous publications applauding the Federal Government for disarming the Ijaw, whom they maliciously labeled as the sole perpetrators of violence. They publicly declared that Itsekiris were not militants and would not partake in the program, asserting that their youths were "enlightened, educated, and peaceful." It is, therefore, the height of hypocrisy and shamelessness for the same group to now aggressively clamor for inclusion through blackmail and intimidation. One cannot approbate and reprobate. The Itsekiri nation cannot eat its cake and have it.rnrnThe subsequent inclusion of the Itsekiri people in the PAP was not a right they earned through participation but a privilege granted out of magnanimity. Following the initial phases of the program, and after witnessing its success, an appeal was made on their behalf. This was significantly influenced by the wife of the late National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoye Andrew Azazi (an Ijaw icon), who was of Itsekiri descent.rnrnFollowing a failed petition to the National Assembly, where the then PAP Administrator, Dr. Kingsley Kuku, successfully argued that the Itsekiri had no case for inclusion as agitators, an appeal was made to President Goodluck Jonathan on humanitarian grounds. It was on this basis of being an "impacted community," not an ex-agitating one, that 500 slots were negotiated and granted to them. Crucially, these slots were designated specifically for training and empowerment, not for monthly stipends. Any claim to the contrary, especially those predicated on demanding overseas scholarships as an entitlement, is both dubious and fraudulent. The architects of the Niger Delta struggle do not even lay claim to such exclusivity.rnrnFurthermore, we wish to debunk the false narrative that a disarmament and demobilization exercise was held in Koko, Warri North. The first, second, and third phases of the DDR process in Delta State took place in Agbarho and at the 3rd Battalion, Effurun. The Itsekiris merely submitted a political list to fill the 500 slots graciously given to them, this was not disarmament.rnrnThe relentless attacks and pull-him-down syndrome directed at Dr. Otuaro are part of a familiar script. This strategy of blackmail, mischief-making, and envy is a well-known tactic employed to strong-arm authorities. Dr. Otuaro, a true son of the struggle, cannot be intimidated or derailed by this campaign of falsehoods. He is focused on his mandate to reposition the PAP for the benefit of all legitimate beneficiaries and the entire Niger Delta region.rnrnThe mischievous claim that PAP delegates are paid with oil money from Itsekiri land is a falsehood that must be corrected. It is an empirical and irrefutable fact that the Ijaw nation is the major producer of the crude oil that funds the federal coffers and, by extension, the Amnesty Programme.rnrnWe must also draw a parallel to the wisdom of King Solomon in 1 Kings 3:16-28. Like the false mother who would rather see the baby cut in two than allow the rightful mother to have it, the Itsekiri's historical pattern is to lay false claims and, upon failure, opt for destruction. This destructive entitlement mentality must be recognized for the evil that it is and unequivocally stopped.rnrnThe Itsekiri nation does not have a monopoly on protest or agitation. Should they continue on this path of provocation and threats against a constituted authority, let it be known that we will not stand idly by. While we remain law-abiding, we are fully prepared to mobilize in defense of truth and the integrity of the PAP.rnrnWe are, therefore, using this medium to call on His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly, and the National Security Adviser to intervene decisively. The Itsekiri leadership and their youths must be cautioned. Their current activities, if left unchecked, pose a direct threat to the fragile peace and stability of the Niger Delta.rnrnDr. Otuaro remains undeterred and committed to his duties. The Itsekiri nation must accept that what they enjoy from the PAP is a privilege, and they should be grateful for the additional slots Dr. Otuaro has already approved for them, rather than attempting to burn the house down.rnrnSigned,rnrnChief Gen.Inko Brightstar a.k.a WhoKnows TomorrowrnCoordinator,rnDr. Dennis Otuaro Volunteer Media Team