Move By The FG To Discontinue The Presidential Amnesty Program Is Oppresive And Unthinkable – OPAAN

The Oil Producing Areas Association Of Nigeria Delta State Chapter has kicked against the alleged move by the FG to discontinue the Presidential Amnesty Program

In a press release signed by the chairman OPAAN, Delta State Chapter, Rev. Jonathan-Davids Dike (ADRI), he said that the Presidential Amnesty Program to Ex-Agitators in the Niger Delta was no doubt  an amazing  peace initiative  by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua via an act of parliament dated  the 6th of August 2009,  as a step towards resolving the protracted insecurity in the oil rich region by granting unconditional  amnesty to the Niger Delta youths at a period  that the vandalization of crude oil assets,  and hostages of  expatriates from Multi-Nationals have become  the only available option to compel  the Federal Government on the urgent and pertinent need to develop  the oil rich Niger Delta region that has been neglected over the years, despite  the indisputable fact that “it lays the golden egg” that survives the entire Country through Oil  exploration in the region.

The statement read, “There is no gainsaying the fact that the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has brought relative and enviable peace to the region over a decade of its existence.

“Notwithstanding the above development, The Oil Producing Areas Association Of Nigeria (OPAAN), is not unaware of the fraud ravaging the program by those saddled with the responsibility of managing and  implementing the mandate of the body, which subsequently  led to the sack of the immediate past  Special Adviser and coordinator of the program, Professor Charles Dokubo six months ago, and the eventual setting up of a 4-man  investigative panel by the National Security Adviser (NSA) Maj. Gen. Babagana Muhammad Mongouno  to review the  activities of PAP in line with its statutory assignment.

“It is worthy of note that the investigative panel is being headed by Amb A.A Lawal, a northerner from Bauchi State who in company of his team have  deliberately refused to see the  importance and Government sincerity  of establishing the amnesty program, due to the indisputable  fact that the members of the panel and  their families are  not  at the receiving end of the total neglect,under development and  inhuman living condition experienced in the Oil Rich Niger Delta.

“For the benefit of doubt, we  have it on good record, that the panel  is rumoured to have recommended for the scrapping  of  PAP by the end of  December 2020, after carrying out  their investigation in Abuja  without finding it necessary to visit the abandoned  region for  a first hand fact finding mission. We do not only  see this clandestine move by members of the panel as a total  disservice to the good people of the region,, but an economic  sabotage against the President Muhammedu Buhari led Administration.

“Furthermore, it is our conviction  that  a panel that has all its members from a particular  geopolitical zone (North), will definitely not support continuity of this very noble and people oriented  program.

“On this very sincere and justifiable note, OPAAN wishes to state in categorical terms that the move is not only  unpatriotic, but  inimical to the plight of the peace loving people of the Niger Delta , as well as a breach of trust. This decision if implemented , will certainly be an open demonstration of hatred for the people of the oil producing Areas of Niger Delta.

“To this effect, OPAAN is urging President Mohammadu Buhari  to in totality  disregard  this unpatriotic  recommendation with a hidden ploy to  wickedly  destroy the relative peace and increased oil revenue experienced  so far vis-a-vis  the setting up  of  the Presidential Amnesty Program.

“This is also a clarion call to the elected representatives from the region to come together in close synergy to nip this evil plot in the bud for the common good of the neglected and vulnerable people of the region.

“OPAAN as a body,  also deem it absolutely necessary   to  use this medium to call on Mr President to as a matter of urgency and public concern appoint a substantive Special Adviser and Coordinator for the amnesty program, as we are assure the current Federal Government and critical stakeholders of our continued and overwhelming cooperation towards the peace,  growth and development of the Niger Delta Region and Nigeria in general, the statement concluded.