TheCable

The leadership of the coalition of Niger Delta civil society groups has asked Bola Tinubu, president-elect, to retain and extend the tenure of Barry Ndiomu, interim administrator of the presidential amnesty programme (PAP), when he assumes office.

The groups which include the Niger Delta solidarity forum, Niger Delta progressive front and coalition of Niger Delta youth movement also demanded that Ndiomu be appointed substantive chairman or the president’s special adviser on amnesty programmes.

Bunawari Doso, co-ordinator of the groups, spoke at a press conference in Akure, Ondo, on Wednesday.

Doso said the groups were advocating for Ndiomu given his scorecard and assured that he would achieve more in the interests of the people if given the opportunity.

“In our previous statements, we have articulated some of the successes of the PAP boss, not just because we have ulterior motives of getting favours but because as critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta region, we have observed for the last few years that all is not well with the Amnesty institution created by the federal government many years ago until our amiable General came on board to retool it,” Doso said.

“Coming from an era where the entitlements and welfare of beneficiaries of the PAP projects were bastardised on the altar of selfish interest and personal aggrandizement, General Ndiomu came like a Messiah we have all been waiting for to liberate our people from bondage who seems to be too powerful to be questioned or probed on grounds of abuse of office for personal gains.

“He shared in our people’s yearnings and aspirations and gave accelerated directives on the payment of outstanding entitlements of our people which some individuals deliberately withheld for reasons best known to them for more than three years.”

Doso knocked those who attempted to sabotage the interim administrator’s leadership, saying they were disgruntled because Ndiomu blocked leakages which benefited them.

“This is therefore a narration to tell those who are bittered about his giant strides to follow due process, maybe, one element we need to tackle is the growing trends of misinformation among the locals. Our people have been fed with a series of campaigns of calumny capable of causing anarchy,” he said.

“One thing, however, that is being untold by these individuals sponsoring a series of protests to tarnish the image of our leader is how they were exposed for receiving multiple monthly payments via many bank accounts. General Ndiomu came on board to expose these frauds in order to allow qualified beneficiaries access to their entitlement.

“We call on the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to retain this man who has taken public service as indeed a call to service and he will make sure he continues to fight corruption and make the PAP saner.

“We cannot afford to have a halt in the progress of the current transformation that is greeting this programme, rather we need to advance the course of the programme.”