From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Third Phase Ex-agitators Forum led by “General” Preye Ekpebide has decried the calls for the removal of Dr. Dennis Otuaro as Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
A coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSO) had recently expressed dissatisfaction over what it described as an “unprecedented passiveness of the office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme after the recent appointment of Dennis Otuaro as Administrator.”
Led by its spokesman, Dennis Nako Francis, the coalition therefore called on President Bola Tinubu as well as the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who is vested with the power of overseeing the Amnesty Office to revisit Otuaro’s appointment.
However, in a swift solidarity with Otuaro, the national chairman of the third phase, Preye Ekpebide, in a statement described the calls for Otuaro’s sack as “laughable, childish and uncalled-for.”
Ekpebide, who noted that Otuaro was just appointed two months ago, which made the call for his sack ridiculous, said those spearheading the opposition against Otuaro were not part of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
“How can persons who are alien to the programme have a say in the scheme of things? Their call for Dr. Otuaro, therefore, remains null and void,” he said.
Ekpebide described the members of the CSO as destabilisers who were driven by selfishness to distract Otuaro and trigger unrest in the region.
Ekpebide insists that Otuaro is amply qualified to lead the Amnesty Programme given his experience, innovativeness, and active participation in the Niger Delta struggle.
“It is laughable and counterproductive for anyone to describe Dr. Dennis Otuaro’s short reign as passive. More so, the calls for his sack are unpatriotic and inexpedient, and we strongly believe they have a political undertone, which is sad to say the least.
“What Otuaro needs right now is an unflinching support from all PAP delegates and stakeholders from the Niger Delta to be able to steer the Programme to achieve its mandate,” he stated.
Ekpbide seized the opportunity to commend President Bola Tinubu for appointing Otuaro to lead the Amnesty office.
He equally thanked the NSA and other critical stakeholders who had facilitated Otuaro’s appointment, saying they have the interest of Niger Delta at heart.
The third phase ex-agitators’ leader urged the President to completely disregard the calls to sack Otuaro, adding that the appointment of the PAP boss was akin to putting a round peg in a round hole.