(Femi Folaranmi – YENAGOA)
Ex-militant leaders from the nine states of the Niger Delta region have given passed a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Implementation Committee, Brig- Gen Paul Boroh(retd) over what they called the proper funding of the amnesty programme and ongoing development in the region.
The ex-militant leaders in a communiqué issued after meeting under their platform Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI) over the weekend said Buhari and Boroh deserve a vote of confidence for the transparent implementation of the amnesty programme inherited from the former administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan
According to the LPCDI, “a vote of confidence was passed for President Mohamadu Buhari and Paul Boroh on their land mark effort to bring about development to the Niger Delta region.”
While applauding Buhari for the approval of the establishment of the maritime University at Okerenkoko in Delta State, they also commended his effort and show of concern for the amnesty programmme with a sizeable amount of 65 billion naira budgetary allocation to the Amnesty office.”
The ex-militants explained that contrary to the perceptions of many in the region, the Federal Government has shown so much concern for the Amnesty programme and the people of the region as could also be seen with the payment of all stipends owed in arrears to beneficiaries.
They also noted the far reaching peace advocacy efforts of Vice President Yemi Osibanjo stressing that his efforts and tour around the region has contributed to the current peace being enjoyed in the region.
The communiqué read in “The group wish to commend the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Program, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh. We are confident that the Paul Boroh’s led administration has brought about obvious development in the region particularly with the various Agricultural Development programmes being carried out. During his tenure, many more youths have been empowered with various skill acquisitions and vocational trainings.
“We want to seize the opportunity to again plead with the Federal Government to award the surveillance contracts to the leaders as this will further help to reduce any form of pipeline vandalism because the boys and locals in the region will be actively engaged.”