The Ijaw Youths Network has urged President Bola Tinubu to ignore calls by some stakeholders to scrap the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

The IYN said those calling for the scrapping of the PAP were uncomfortable with the story of peace and stability in the region and were not motivated by patriotism and genuine concern for the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.

The IYN, in a statement issued by its President, Frank Ebikabo, and the Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, on Sunday, June 16, 2024, said that the calls were designed to distract the new leadership of the PAP and did not deserve attention from serious minds.

The IYN was responding to comments made by one Frank Tietie, who claimed that there was corruption in the PAP.

Tietie added that the agency had not achieved anything despite the money spent on it by the federal government.

The group, however, stressed that what the Niger Delta needs at this time is not the promotion of divisive ethnic sentiments and the use of same to attack a functional agency making impacts in the region but concerted efforts for development.

According to the IYN, the PAP has contributed immensely to the sustenance of prevailing peace in the oil-rich Niger Delta through its well-thought-out programmes.

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The group noted that it cannot be contested that several ex-agitators and people from impacted communities are excelling in various sectors of the economy after receiving training under the PAP.

The group noted that several beneficiaries of the PAP were employed as air traffic controllers, flight instructors, aircraft maintenance engineers, pilots, and underwater welding, among others, from the various states of the Niger Delta, adding that but for the PAP many of them would not have had the opportunity to acquire such training.

The group stressed that “it was plain mischief for anybody to attempt to mislead the country with the false narrative that the 30,000 ex-agitators listed under the Programme are there on the platform of ethnicity.”

It added: “Nigerians know that the Federal Government of Nigeria did not declare a selective amnesty for the ex-militants in the Niger Delta.

“The 30,000 ex-agitators captured under the programme are not enrolled because they speak a particular language. Mr Tietie can ask his kinsman, General Lucky Aralile (retd.), who was the pioneer head of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.”

The IYN, therefore, urged the PAP leadership to avoid being distracted but to be focused on the effective execution of the mandate to ensure the sustenance of peace and the creation of the ideal environment for economic growth and development in the region.

The Star