By Cletus Opukeme, Warri
Niger Delta critical stakeholder, Mr. Paul Azorbo Amabiri has said the Ijaw apex organization led by erudite Professor Benjamin Okagbare endorsing the PAP boss, Dr. Dennis Otuaro’s appointment is a move in the right direction.
Amabiri in a response to a faceless group, styled itself as Project Niger Delta (PND) who condemned INC endorsement of the presidential amnesty programme administrator’s appointment.
He said in a press statement made available to Daily Watch, stated that
”It is the stock and trade of some disgruntled persons impersonate as Niger Deltans and hide under unknown umbrella bodies to cast aspersions and release malicious publications aimed at disrupting the polity.
”These kind of moves are not new,but we have been tackling them head on,ever since Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro assumed office.
”This latest derogatory remarks on the person of Dr.Dennis Brutu Otuaro is not the first,neither are we envisaging it to be the last,but each will be met with corresponding and proportionate replies” he said.
According to Amabiri. ”The Presidential Amnesty Programme boss office is a position that attracts stakeholders, traditional rulers,ex-agitators,and all concerned Niger Deltan. These people sometimes come to give needed support and advice,others endorse and give credence for excellent service or performance. This informed the decision of the Ijaw National Congress president,Prof. Benjamin Okaba to endorse the leadership of Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro.
”The statement of the endorsement was released by the special assistant on media to the Amnesty coordinator, Mr Igoniko Oduma.
”Immediately the media assistant to the PAP boss released the endorsement, a counter publication was released by one Princewill Timipre Ebebi,an executive director and coordinator of project Niger,the publication was made to Daily news Nigeria on Saturday. The group stated that Prof. Okaba did not inform any of his exco members before going ahead to endorse Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro.
”In that publication, some unpleasant remarks were made on person of Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro and we wish to address them properly and also educate the authors.
”In the publication, they referred to the Presidential Amnesty Programme coordinator who was appointed by His excellency, president Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “self acclaimed” Amnesty boss. How can someone be self acclaimed when he was duly employed by the president, Federal Republic of Nigeria! I guess the handlers of that faceless group don’t know what it means to be self acclaimed. If they did,they won’t abuse that phrase ignorantly and display foolishness.
”Another area is the grudge they have with the INC president, Prof. Benjamin Okaba. They should have specifically addressed whatever they have with the INC president and not involve the amnesty boss. The amnesty boss has started on the right foot and he is on track, hence the commendation and endorsement” He added.
