Leaders and coordinators of the Phase One Ex-agitators have warned some detractors in the Niger Delta against blackmailing and attacking the Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro.
Arising from their meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the weekend, the leaders also condemned the ongoing plot to link Otuaro to a purportedly leaked confidential document about former President Goodluck Jonathan
According to a communique issued after the meeting, the leaders particularly took exceptions to a recent social media video where it was claimed that Otuaro leaked a confidential document in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) on former President Jonathan.
The communique was signed by the Chairman, First Phase and King of Ofunama, HRH Henry Binidodogha, aka General Egbeme.
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They also condemned what they described as unsavoury allusions made in the video on the personality of Niger Delta freedom fighter and Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo.
“We also believe strongly that Dr Dennis Otuaro did not know anything about the published document. The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme does not work with the DSS,” the communique read in part.
The ex-agitators insisted that the PAP office was not an extension or annex of the DSS and that sensitive documents of the security agency like the one branded in the video was not in any way in the custody of Dr Dennis Otuaro.
“By now, it crystal clear to all that the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, has recorded a lot of achievements since assuming office in the past eight months.
“We are aware that he has brought the programme home to the Niger Delta people and indeed all stakeholders for sustainable peace, security and development of our region.
“As a matter of fact, various critical stakeholders have commended Dr Dennis Otuaro for the noble reforms that his leadership had engendered at the Presidential Amnesty Programme to make the programme more beneficial to all delegates and beneficiaries and our region,” the communique added.
The leaders expressed their unwavering support for Otuaro saying that they had no doubt that, as a product of the struggle, he understood the mandate of PAP and the Niger Delta issues.
“We also applaud the Office of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; and President Bola Tinubu for their unwavering support for Dr Otuaro and the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
“We urge them to continue to give the necessary support to Dr Dennis Otuaro to enable him to achieve the Programme’s objectives,” it added.
