By Kofa Kingsley, Ughelli
Delta State leaders of Phase 3 Presidential Amnesty Programme say it was high time for President Muhammadu Buhari to upgrade status of Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (Rtd) from Interim administrator PAP to Special Adviser SA to the President on Niger Delta and Co-ordinator Amnesty Programme.
The phase 3 amnesty leaders arising from a meeting in Warri, Delta State led by Ambassador Preye Ekpebide ,Chairman Delta State phase 3 amnesty programme, asserted that following the antecedents of Col.Dikio (rtd) since he took over the mantle to co-ordinate the affairs of ex-millitants from the Niger Delta Region, his programmes, approach and policies has brought great improvement in the management of the ex-war lords, therefore they suggested that nomenclature of Interim administrator no longer fits Dikio.
The meeting which have in attendance of Comrade Julius Joseph, national Chairman Phase 3 Presidential Amnesty Programme , Gen. Goddday Smith aka Bounanaowei and others commended Dikio for prompt payment of monthly stipend to the documented ex-millitants as well as getting regular contact to the grass root to address the needs of the ex-millitants .
however Ekpebide advised the PAP interim administrator to document the phase 3 ex-millitants who were left out after their leaders was documented since 2013.He commended Dikio for timely intervening to calm the phase 3 ex-millitants that were planning to carryout protest at the Amnesty office Abuja.
Ambassador Ekpebide further enjoined Dikio to identify and engage ex-millitant leaders of each phases 1,2,3 in every States of the Niger Delta region to get their inputs and issues and not to rely only on the top ranking ex-leader leaders who he accused of shielding Dikio from reaching others that equally have brilliant ideas that could move the programme forward.
Furthermore, the phase 3 amnesty leaders called on the National Security Adviser and the Presidency to give Col.Dikio (rtd) free hand to operate to manage the affairs of the programme added that since his inception as interim administrator he has not derailed and the region have been enjoying relative peace .
