Edo group moves against Amnesty boss over alleged neglect

The Benin National Congress (BNC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to consider the immediate and unconditional dissolution of the Prof. Charles Dokubo management team of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) over perceived anti-Edo policies.

The Director of Mobilisation, Amadin Idaeho, stated in Benin City that after the disarmament, voluntary surrender and rehabilitation era of armed militants, a state like Edo was not carried along in the next phase of enlisting youths from peaceful communities.

According to the group, the Dokubo-led management does not complement the Federal Government’s development programme for Edo youths.

“We have long held the view that the parochial interests of some Federal Government appointees account significantly for the perception of President Buhari in some quarters as lackluster and insensitive to the plight of the Niger Delta people.

“Otherwise, it is unthinkable that a state like Edo, which hosts the West Africa Gas Project in Orhionmwon Council and arguably the largest host of gas in Niger Delta, could be laughably relegated in the scholarship and skill acquisition programmes for indigent youths in our oil and gas communities,” Idaeho said.

He said the PAP had been carrying on as if the only prerequisite for the lofty programme was through armed struggle.

“Any government agency that sends wrong signals capable of inspiring violence or insurgency does not mean well for Nigeria, and Mr. President should waste no time in sacking such management team.

“Since coming on board, the Prof. Charles Dokubo-led management has continued to carry on as if the refusal by Edo youths to take to full-fledged hostilities against oil and gas exploration was an anathema to their consideration as beneficiaries for scholarship and empowerment programmes.

“Meanwhile, other ethnic nationalities and very small host communities continued to benefit as if President Buhari barred Edo people from benefiting from the programme,” he added.

BNC claimed that the youths were at the crossroads, as their hopes for skill acquisition and scholarship continued to wane.

“They can become more desperate with unpleasant consequences; hence we respectfully and passionately appeal for the dissolution of the current management team for a more pragmatic set of managers to steer the affairs of the federal programme,” it added.