After a month of tension and anxiety in the Niger Delta, the Federal Government has at last rescinded its earlier decision to terminate the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
Following a declaration by the newly appointed Interim Administrator, Maj Gen. Barry Ndiomu that the Federal Government had given him the mandate to terminate the programme, various stakeholders in the region reacted in opposition to the decision.
The PAN Niger Delta Forum, the Ijaw National Congress, the Ijaw Youth Council, Lawmakers and stakeholders issued statements to advise the President against the sensitive decision.
On Saturday, a statement by the Media Consultant, to the PAP, Donu Kogbara, quoted the Interim Administrator, Maj-Gen Barry Ndiomu (retd), as having confirmed the government’s new position on Friday.
The Network investigations revealed that the decision has doused tension in the jolted region.
Ndiomu thanked the Federal Government for listening to his advise that stakeholders across the Niger Delta were against decision to wind down the programme.
However, the PAP boss noted that stakeholders are unanimous in the support for “constructive change and his view that the programme needs to be totally refocused and restructured.”
He said the Federal Government considered and saw the merit in the arguments presented to it and decided against shutting down the programme.
According to him, the Federal Government’s decision to reverse the planned termination of the programme only “demonstrated the sensitivity of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to issues affecting the Niger Delta.”
He said, “The Federal Government has heard the concerns of Niger Delta people and, with our best interests at heart, has decided to shelve an unwanted termination agenda and transform PAP into a more sanitized, transparent, efficient, robust and sustainable entity.
“The decision was taken after the feelings of stakeholders and people of the region were communicated to the government and proves that the Buhari administration will not do anything to jeopardize peace in the Niger Delta.”
