In a strongly worded appeal to President Bola Tinubu, the Oporoza House, a coalition of respected leaders and stakeholders from the Niger Delta, has urged the Federal Government to disregard what they described as “spurious and baseless allegations” against the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro.
The coalition, comprising influential figures such as the pioneer President of the Ijaw Youths Council, Dr. Felix Tuodolo, Mr. Kime Engozu, and Elder Kennedy Orubebe, submitted a formal letter to Tinubu, emphasising the transformative impact of PAP under Otuaro’s leadership.
According to the letter, the recent allegations of financial impropriety were part of a “calculated campaign of calumny” orchestrated by disgruntled ex-agitators who were not appointed to leadership positions.
The signatories, who also included notable Niger Delta leaders like Hendricks Opukeme, Ari Sylvester Ari, and ElfridaOlungwe, hailed Otuaro’s leadership for bringing transparency and accountability to PAP, asserting that his reforms have curtailed fraudulent practices ensuring that funds are effectively utilised for the reintegration and empowerment of ex-agitators.
The letter read: “It is evident that these malicious allegations stem from ex-agitators who failed to secure appointments as Administrator of the PAP and are now seeking revenge.
“Their actions represent a campaign of calumny aimed at tarnishing the reputation of Dr Otuaro and the programme.” The letter highlighted how Otuaro has reinvigorated the programme by prioritising vocational training and economic empowerment initiatives, resulting in increased participation in educational programmes for ex-agitators.
The coalition urged the Federal Government to recognise these achievements rather than be swayed by detractors.The group reaffirmed that all payments made under Otuaro’s administration have adhered strictly to government accounting standards. They maintained that the allegations were designed to mislead the public and undermine the programme’s successes.
