News

Bayelsa Monarch, Ijaw Leader Kick Against Scrapping PAP

Published

3 years ago

September 28, 2022

Chairman of Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, King Bubaraye Dakolo-Agada IV and the 2nd Vice President of Ijaw National Congress, INC, Chief Nengi Eriworio, have kicked against the reported plan by the Federal Government to scrap the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP.

King Dakolo-Agada IV and Eriworio stated this in separate interviews in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

They both agreed that PAP has contributed to the unity of Nigeria, sustained the peace in Niger Delta with increased volumes of oil and gas production, and assisted the Federal Government in generating excess revenues of over $300 billion from the sale of oil and gas products in the last 12 years.

While King Dakolo commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment of the new Interim Administrator, Major-General Barry Ndiomu (retd), he noted that PAP should be sustained so that the youths of the region would have more opportunities to be trained and empowered to become useful citizens from the region.

Eriworio, who is also the Bayelsa State Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, argued: “Despite the challenges of control and misapplication of priorities in terms of training and funding, the PAP should be sustained because it assists thousands of families and youths across Niger Delta, which produces majority of the natural resources that have continually sustained the country, and the region remains the major source for Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.

“The PAP has also assisted in areas of manpower development, entrepreneurial skills among Niger Delta youths, and in sustaining the peace for oil and gas expatriates to operate freely across the region.”

King Dakolo-Agada IV, said: “While thanking President Buhari for the appointment of our capable son into the programme at this point in history, we want to call that PAP be sustained so that the teeming youths in the region, who are still suffering from one form of displacement or unemployment are properly trained and empowered for the future of the region.

“These youths will have a reason and an opportunity to be properly trained to become more useful citizens of Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.”

Also speaking, Eriworio called on President Buhari to shun the calls for the scrapping of PAP, saying instead, the president should increase funding for the training and empowerment of the youths of the region.

Eriworio, who expressed concern over the excessive external influence in the PAP, said: “There is the need to sustain the amnesty programme and allow for proper training and engagement of the youths of the region, there are many youths that are still waiting to be trained. Some are even in court seeking to be included in the programme, while millions of youths across the region are eagerly expressing their desires to be included in the programme.

“Therefore, it is in the interest of the Federal Government to sustain this affordable peace, instead of scrapping this cost effective peace for an unknown alternative that might cost ten to twenty times more.”
VANGUARD

News

JUST IN: Tinubu Reverses Maryam Sanda’s Pardon, Convict To Spend Six Years In Jail

Published

47 minutes ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

After backlash for granting a presidential pardon to Maryam Sanda, sentenced to death in 2020 for the killing of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, President Bola Tinubu has revoked the pardon and reversed her sentence to 12 years.

This was revealed in an official gazette released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday.

According to the gazette, Sanda, who had already spent six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre, got the new approved term on compassionate grounds.

Details later…

News

JUST IN: Tinubu Bows To Pressure, Reviews Pardon For Kidnapping, Drug-related Offences

Published

1 hour ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a review of the presidential pardon granted to at least 175 persons at the National Council of State meeting on October 9, 2025, following nationwide outrage over the inclusion of individuals convicted of serious offences.

In a statement on Wednesday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said, “Consequently, certain persons convicted of serious crimes such as kidnapping, drug-related offences, human trafficking, fraud, unlawful possession of firearms/arms dealing, etc., were deleted from the list.”

Onanuga added, “Others who had been hitherto pardoned in the old list had their sentences commuted.”

Details shortly…

News

JUST IN: Senate Clears Oluyede As Chief Of Defence Staff

Published

2 hours ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Chief of Defence Staff-designate, General Olufemi Oluyede, as it began the screening of the newly appointed service chiefs at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

Oluyede was confirmed barely an hour after he and other nominees arrived at the complex amid tight security.

Welcoming the nominees to the chamber, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the screening as a constitutional duty aimed at ensuring that only the most competent and patriotic officers are entrusted with safeguarding the nation.

Akpabio said, “Distinguished colleagues, it is with great pleasure that I welcome our newly appointed Service Chiefs to the hallowed chamber of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

On behalf of the entire Senate, “I congratulate you on your well-deserved appointments and commend you for the years of dedicated service you have rendered to our great nation.”

He further explained that the exercise was part of the Senate’s oversight responsibility to guarantee discipline and professionalism within the armed forces, adding that the chamber looked forward to a constructive interaction that would strengthen Nigeria’s security system.

The Senate President added, “Today’s exercise is in keeping with our constitutional duty to provide oversight and ensure that only the most competent, patriotic, and disciplined officers are entrusted with the task of safeguarding our national security and territorial integrity.”

Leading the delegation, Oluyede arrived at the National Assembly complex around 10 a.m. alongside other senior officers. The nominees are being screened by the Committee of the Whole, chaired by Akpabio, before formal confirmation.

Their appearance follows a letter from President Tinubu, which was read during Tuesday’s plenary, urging the Red Chamber to give “expeditious consideration” to the nominations.

The President listed the nominees as General Olufemi Oluyede (Chief of Defence Staff), Major General Waheedi Shaibu (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral Idi Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff), Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke (Chief of Air Staff), and Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye (Chief of Defence Intelligence).

The screening comes just a week after Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with the new service chiefs at the Presidential Villa — his first official engagement with the military hierarchy following last week’s sweeping shake-up in the armed forces.

According to the Presidency, the appointments form part of the administration’s broader efforts to strengthen the national security architecture and improve coordination among the military and intelligence agencies.

Tinubu had also lauded the outgoing service chiefs for their “patriotic service and leadership” and urged their successors to justify the confidence reposed in them by upholding professionalism, unity, and vigilance within the Armed Forces.