The interim administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Retired Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu has called on ex-agitators to resist the temptation of being used as thugs to subvert election processes.
Mr Ndioma made the call when the leadership of the Third Phase of the PAP, led by its national chairman, Elaye Slaboh, paid him a solidarity visit on Friday in Abuja.
He urged them to go all out and vote according to their conscience and abide by the tenets of democracy in their respective areas.
The PAP boss said it would be a sad development to see any of them engaged in electoral malfeasance because of financial and other inducements.
Mr Ndiomu stressed the need for the people of the Niger Delta to support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
He further explained that Mr Tinubu’s ongoing efforts to sustain the PAP and make it more productive must be encouraged by the region’s people.
“The PAP administration is also working with an unchanged budget in addressing the needs of the ex-agitators. These are efforts worth applauding.
“I implore you to also cherish the efforts of the management team of the PAP for the various policies, innovations and initiatives introduced to address the welfare needs of beneficiaries,’’ he said.
He explained that the programme was not established as a regional social welfare scheme.
Mr Ndiomu said it was floated to address ex-agitators’ needs through formal and non-formal education, skills, and empowerment programmes to reintegrate them into society.
“It is true that the programme derailed at some point before my taking over as the administrator, and this is being corrected through the various policy reform initiatives,” he said.
However, Mr Ndiomu said it was unfortunate that some ex-agitators supported the “old ways.”
Mr Ndiomu expressed hope that the `Third Phase’ under Mr Slaboh would usher in peace, show more understanding and work closely with the management of PAP to achieve the desired objectives of the programme.
(NAN)
