The Ijaw Youth Council, Western Zone has reaffirmed its support for the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Dennis Otuaro.
The IYC Western Zone also threw its weight behind the endorsement of Otuaro by the National President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba following an attack on him by a the Project Niger Delta (PND) a ‘faceless’ group led by Princewill Timipre.
In a statement on Tuesday signed by Nicholas Igarama – Chairman, Ebi Joshua Olowolayemo – Secretary, and Tare Magbei – Information Officer, the Zone subsequently warned against unnecessary distractions against the administration of Otuaro.
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It reads;
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“The Ijaw Youth Council, Western Zone expresses utter displeasure against the misguided comments by a faceless and aimless group under the aegis of Project Niger Delta led by one Princewill Timipre targeting the National President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba following his endorsement of the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Dennis Otuaro.
“An attack against Prof. Okaba, a scholar of high repute and leader of 40 million Ijaw people across the globe, can only be instigated by enemies of our collective will as a nation.
“The endorsement of the incumbent PAP administration by the apex Ijaw body and President of all ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta is only an affirmation of Dr. Otuaro’s dedication to rebranding the agency towards fulfilling its founding objectives.
“It is crystal clear for the blind to see and sound enough for the deaf to comprehend that the Presidential Amnesty Programme has undergone rejigging since Dr. Otuaro’s appointment by President Bola Tinubu.
“It is on record that Otuaro’s appointment was received with great aplomb by all well-meaning Niger Deltans and described as a “square peg in a square hole.” President Tinubu was widely commended for assigning a man with a firsthand experience of the Niger Delta struggle to man the special agency.
“In that vein, critical stakeholders, ex-agitators, and leaders alike across the Niger Delta have all at different intervals commended Otuaro for his landmark initiatives to reemphasize their support for his reign.
“It is on that premise that President Okaba declared his support for Otuaro’s leadership acumen on behalf of the Ijaw National Congress to strengthen the PAP Administrator for the course ahead. As such, an attack against both individuals, who are bona fide sons of the Western Zone, is perceived as an attack on our collective will.
“As the first individual from Delta State to oversee the Presidential Amnesty programme, the Ijaw Youth Council, Western Zone reaffirm our support for Otuaro as our son, and commend him for giving the agency a huge face-lift.
“We declare that both the PND and its lead actor are tools in the hands of unscrupulous elements who are allergic to see positive progress and development in the Niger Delta.
“We encourage key actors and stakeholders of the Niger Delta to disregard the PND and drivers of the unfortunate ship. They are merely perpetrators of disharmony in the region and nothing more.
“The IYC Western Zone recommits itself to providing the enabling environment and needed support towards the fulfilment of Otuaro’s laudable policies for the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
“We also use this medium to appreciate the PAP Administrator for first engaging stakeholders across Niger Delta & Ijaw Nation, which was held in Western Zone.
“Finally, we advise the PND and Timipre Princewill to desist from its meaningless attacks against prominent Ijaw sons, particularly of the Western Zone.”
