By Israel Ekene Ohia
Since 2009, when the office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) was formed, different heads have spearheaded it. Still, none can be said to have faced opposition and detractors from various angles like the one being faced by the current Administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, whose stellar performances at PAP have been like a shining light, who, from the inception of office, said it will no longer be business as usual.
It has been from one sponsored media attack against him to another, from one petition against him to another, from one protest to another, from one rally to another, all because Dr. Dennis came on board and said it will no longer be business as usual and those who feel the source of making illegal wealth and monies, those that feel that PAP’s fund meant for the programme is theirs to share and it has been stopped since he came on board are now angry with him, and thereby has resorted to all these various attacks on Dr. Otuaro, all to pull him down.
But the truth is that Dr. Dennis Otuaro, coming to PAP as its head, is to work, to deliver, to fulfill the mandate of PAP, to block loopholes where the monies meant for the training, reintegration of ex-agitators are used for what it is meant for, and not to be shared.
Truth remains that since he assumed office, rather than being distracted by the crocodile tears and hullabaloo emanating from the detractors who don’t mean well for PAP, he has continued to spearhead a succession of transformative restructurings that have redefined the impact of the programme.
To Dr. Otuaro, he believes that his coming to PAP is to come and enhances the reintegration of ex-agitators, foster the sustainable development in the Niger Delta, and ensures that the programme achieves its obligations with grander productivity and accountability and responsibility, and these has been his focus at PAP.
Rather than allow the naysayers, busybodies, and detractors distract him from doing the right thing at PAP, he has remained focused on delivering the mandate he is saddled with.
A peek into his activities in the last year since he was appointed shows that in just one year in office, he has achieved much.
When he assumed office, because he believes in peace and stability in the Niger Delta, urged ex-agitators to enrol in the programme to ensure peace and security in the Niger Delta, emphasizing the importance of avoiding actions that could undermine the programme’s objectives.
Otuaro as it is, to ensure peace, reduce tension and conflicts in the region, has regularly visited the creeks, as he has worked closely with ex-agitators, community leaders, and government agencies all in a bid to maintain stability this he achieved by ensuring that the beneficiaries receive their entitlements on time, while he addresses their concerns through peaceful dialogue.
From a stipend payment scheme to a real empowerment program, Otuaro took PAP to that height, whereby he introduced training, skills development, and business support to help ex-agitators stand on their own, and all those beneficiaries who has depended on monthly payments have now become business owners, skilled professionals, and independent individuals, a step considered breakthrough by many.
Knowing the importance of education and skill training, Otuaro tackled it headlong when he charged ex-agitators to embrace peace and join the programme, and today it is a testament that many and more ex-agitators now have access to scholarships and vocational training, both in Nigeria and abroad, while training centers has been upgraded where many of the young persons are now in engaged in various skills in areas of agriculture, technology, and the maritime industry. At the last count, over 3,000 of them are involved in the training.
Under Otuaro, he has made sure that the management of funds of the programme improved, whereby it is no longer what it used to be before, where mismanagement and corruption reign supreme in the programme, as his administration has made sure that resources go directly to projects that benefit the people. This also has restored hope, trust, and confidence in the progarmme and has brought about more successes achieved at PAP.
Rather than stay in Abuja playing politics of establishing his feet for a possible reappointment, Dennis has instead chosen to spend more time in the creeks and villages of the Niger Delta where the agitation happens in order to solve problems first hand. Afterall, he’s a product of the creek and one of those who fought for emancipation of his people, that led to PAP establishment.
It will be good to bring up an issue that the naysayers, busybodies, and detractors has always had on their lips, on the issue of Maro-Kana Construction Company Limited, contrary dubious speculation that the company is inactive yet does minor contracts and consultancy with the Presidential Amnesty, a common search on CAC will show that the company is active, meaning it has paid its tax up to date. Those who feel they can do better should submit their bids as well, just as Maro-Kana Construction Company Limited has done, and bid lower so they can be awarded the same, instead of crying foul simply because they want the old way of selective bidding, which Otuaro has stopped.
In testament to his sterling leadership at PAP, the National Association of Presidential Amnesty Graduates (NAPAG) has applauded the innovative leadership of the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro. The group also hailed him for bringing vast improvements in overseeing the PAP.
At the end, a thousand naysayers, the busybodies, and detractors cannot stop and distract Dr. Otuaro from achieving the mandate of the programme.
Israel Ekene Ohia writes from Abuja
