From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

The National Vice Chairman of Phase Three, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Alhaji Letugbene has lauded the efforts of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro for repositioning the programme for optimal performance to achieve its core mandate.

Letugbene, who stated this on the sidelines of the Niger Delta Youth parley held recently in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, asserted that Dr Otuaro has accomplished a lot since his appointment by President Bola Tinubu, citing regular payment of stipends, skill acquisition training, education scholarship among others as his laudable achievements. He described Dr Otuaro as a seasoned technocrat and astute administrator with a remarkable record of success in public service, he also commended President Tinubu for appointing the Amnesty boss, who is well known and highly revered for his innovative, pragmatic and charismatic leadership style.He said allegations of misappropriation of N50B, award of contracts to defunct companies and money laundering leveled against the Amnesty boss in a petition by the Niger Delta Liberators and Ex-agitators Forum to the Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are not only false and unsubstantiated, but aimed at distracting him from his assignment.Letugbene bemoaned that the convener of the group, Comrade Odey Otunu, who is not a beneficiary of the Amnesty Programme, is being used by the cabal that once held sway at the Amnesty Office, emphasizing that their grouse is that upon his appointment, Dr Otuaro blocked all leakages which they benefitted from and channeled funds to the welfare of beneficiaries.The Bayelsa youth leader also lampooned Comrade Otunu for not doing due diligence in getting the facts about the Amnesty Office in line with the Freedom.of Information (FOI) Act, saying just last year, an external auditor gave thumbs up to the Otuaro-led administration for prudent management of PAP funds, accountability and transparency.”These baseless allegations and petitions should be discouraged. The NSA, IGP and EFCC should caution organizations like the Niger Delta Liberators and Ex-agitators Forum for attempting to discredit an appointee of President Bola Tinubu, through unsubstantiated claims. Nigeria is a country with laws and these laws against defamation of character must be respected and adhered to by all.”Letugbene asserted that under Dr Otuaro’s watch, international best practices in terms of award of contracts were followed to the latter, stressing that the Amnesty boss and his team have not only prioritized the welfare of beneficiaries but the expansion of the programme to give beneficiaries the chance to be self-sustaining among other achievements.He called on the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun to be alive to their responsibilities by working with federal agencies like the EFCC to curb undue harassment and blackmail of President Bola Tinubu’s appointee, with special focus on the barrage of petitions against Dr Otuaro which are the hard work of mischief makers bent on detailing the amnesty programme.Letugbene passed a vote of confidence on Dr Otuaro and canvassed for more support from stakeholders in the Niger Delta region including state governors, traditional rulers, opinion leaders, women, youth and ethnic-based organizations as well as the leadership and beneficiaries in the three phases, for the PAP Administrator to succeed in his mandate.

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

As the pollution and degradation of Niger Delta environment continue unabated by the Mult-Nationals, the Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) Nnimmo Bassey has urged oil firms to stop the deliberate systematic destruction of the region.The HOMEF director stated this yesterday during the Niger Delta Alternatives Convergence (NDAC) held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital.

The Convergence programme which was held at the state Banquet Hall Government House had in attendance participants across the Niger Delta states. Bassey noted that the Niger Delta region has been treated as a sacrificial zone since in the early 1950s up until now, saying the extreme negative impacts of oil and gas extraction as well as the massive deforestation and various kinds of erosion of both the land and coastlines in the region.On his part, King Bubaraye Dakolo, the Chairman Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, said that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) is an anti-peoples law which criminalizes communities and against the Niger Delta.On the issues of the divesting multinational companies, he emphasized that “we must have our environment restored before anybody takes a step.”We owe it a duty to hold them to account and that even if at the end of the day, they have to leave, there must be a clear programme for restoration of the environment.”For over 70 years the oil firms have made a lot of money in our environment, leaving the people to die in pain, despite the huge monies they have made in our environment,” he said.In his presentation, Dr. Isaac Osuoka, Coordinator, Social Action International, commended the organizing committee and HOMEF for the event.He acknowledges that the first NDAC, which was held in Uyo in 2022, resulted in the adoption of the Niger Delta Manifesto for Socio-Ecological Justice.A foundational and timely document reflecting the shared analysis and demands of our people that Manifesto builds on over 30 years of heroic struggles by communities in the Niger Delta, from Umuechem to Ogoni, from Kaiama to Koluama.

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Prominent leaders from the Ijaw ethnic nationality, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, Bayelsa State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri, his predecessor, Sen. Seriake Dickson and President, Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, among others yesterday, paid tributes to the late Ijaw icon and Niger Delta leader, Pa.

Edwin Clark. At the lying-in-state and commendation service held at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Dr. Jonathan said Chief Clark lived a life of service to others and for a cause he was relentlessly committed to.The former president noted that the only way to honour the Ijaw hero was for his ethnic group to be united, irrespective of kingdom or clan.He said Clark’s innate qualities singled him out as a leader not just to the Ijaws but also to other ethnic nationalities as attested to by the frequent visits of people from other parts of the country to his home.His words: “The key thing for us the Ijaw people from Arogbo in the coastal part of Ondo State to Eastern Obolo in the coastal part of Akwa Ibom State to honour Pa Clark is to unite and not to discriminate against ourselves.”Clark has done very well for us. He was a face of the Niger Delta and not just for the Ijaw ethnic nationality. He was also the face of the oppressed people from the Middle Belt and other tribes visited him more than the Ijaws.”He was very vocal, brave and can tackle any human being at any time if you raise issues that are against his philosophy.”In his tribute, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, said the Ijaw nation was blessed to have had a father in the mould of Clark, who was known for his fearlessness, courage, intelligence and love for his people and Nigeria as a whole.According to Senator Diri, “we are not mourning but celebrating the good deeds of Chief Clark.“l like us to take a cue from his steadfastness and love for his people as he always spoke about the unity, and development of the Ijaw people until his last moments.”The Bayelsa governor disclosed that the state executive council had constituted a committee to consider naming iconic structures and streets after living and dead prominent Ijaw personalities like the late Clark, Jonathan and Dickson among others as part of efforts to immortalise them.He urged Ijaws to demonstrate genuine love for one another and not only for political gains.In his remarks, Senator Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, noted that Clark was a voice respected across the country due to his selflessness.He said the Ijaws lost one of their best as he lived his entire life for the service of his people and prayed that such a leader would emerge from the ethnic group again.The INC president, Prof. Okaba, eulogised Clark as a supreme advocate and fearless defender of the marginalised, describing him as an irrepressible voice for the voiceless and a pillar of national unity whose legacy transcended the realm of politics.He said his passage should be a reminder of the collective responsibility to build a Nigeria that is just, equitable and prosperous for all.Okaba also stated that the late nonagenarian was one of the few notable champions of the Ijaw struggle whose influence transcended regional boundaries in Nigeria and beyond, saying he was an extraordinary personality.In eulogising the late elder statesman, chairman of the Bayelsa traditional ruler’s council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, said his legacies will endure in the hearts of all Ijaws and people of other ethnic nationalities.King Dakolo lauded Clark for his selflessness and said his voice was the loudest and audacious in Nigeria in speaking truth to power for justice and equity.Also, national chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, (PANDEF), Dr. Godknows Igali, captured the late sage’s last moments, revealing that the departed Ijaw icon urged his people to stay united, strong and never give up.He said Clark embodied the essence of the Ijaw man and always professed his identity.The first son of the deceased, Pinaowei Clark, read the only Bible lesson from Ecclesiastes 3:1-6.President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Comrade Jonathan Lokpobiri, also paid glowing tributes to the late Ijaw national leader.Chief Clark died on February 17 this year at the age of 97.Present at the event were the Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi, former Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, House of Representatives member for Sagbama-Ekeremor federal constituency, Dr. Fred Agbedi, state legislators, members of the state executive council among other top government functionaries and dignitaries.