From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Elders and stakeholders from the nine states of Niger Delta have expressed concern over the dwindling fortunes of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) due to the alleged divided attention of the Interim Administrator, Barry Ndiomu following his appointment as the substantive chairman of an eleven-man committee of the special investigative panel on oil theft in the region by the presidency.
According to the group, under the aegis of Movement for the Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta (MSDND), despite the fact that the people of the region are elated that the Presidency found Ndiomu worthy of heading the anti-oil theft committee, the daily operations of the PAP such as staff welfare, payments to thousands of beneficiaries, tuition fees payment to thousands of beneficiaries, empowerment programmes, payment to legitimate contractors and a host of other issues bordering on national security are being neglected due to Ndiomu’s divided attention.
In a letter addressed to National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, MSDND said while there was urgent need to ensure Ndiomu continued with his job as head of the anti-oil theft committee, the same urgency is needed for the appointment of an interim administrator for PAP to avoid the programme’s derailment from its mandates due to neglect of official duties and responsibilities, and lack of concentration emanating from the double-portfolio given to Ndiomu.
In the letter, dated February 3, MSDND Convener, Ayebatekena Olodi, and its Secretary General, Godwin Pere-Ebikabowei, said in light of the scandalous revelations of oil theft by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, it would be good for Ndiomu to focus on his herculean tasks in the nation’s fight against crude oil theft to ensure smooth operations of his committee without stress from the amnesty programme.
“We, MSDND, hereby submit this urgent petition to your office to recommend someone, with proven track record from the Niger Delta region, to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment an interim administrator for PAP because its affairs are being neglected and it is in dire need of a visionary leader.
“PAP at this critical time in history cannot be left fallow. The programme requires the knowledge and expertise of a very dispassionate individual who can appreciate the journey so far. There is no gainsaying that the amnesty programme, under the current leadership, cannot record any meaningful achievement. Therefore, committing Ndiomu to the investigative assignment of deterring oil thieves will be a better option in the present circumstances,” MSDND said in the statement.