Politics

Presidential Amnesty Allegedly Delists 1,714 members, Group Threatens Shutdown

Published

3 years ago

November 5, 2022

Editor

…Give FG two weeks ultimatum to publish names of affected beneficiaries

…Accuse Amnesty officials of shoddy deals

Former Niger Delta Militants have given the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, two weeks to publish in the national dailies names of the 1,714 beneficiaries of scholarship award that have been delisted.

The ex-militants threatened to embark on protests in all states in the region if PAP failed to obey the ultimatum.

The ex-militants also accused some officials of the amnesty programme that worked with the former administration of shoddy deals that culminated in the illegal insertion of names of people that were not beneficiaries of the scholarship award.

The two weeks ultimatum was a fallout of the controversies trailing the 1, 714 local and foreign scholarships allegedly awarded by the immediate past Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dikio (retd).

Some of the aggrieved ex-agitators have vowed to embark on a peaceful protest to demand for their rights if the PAP failed in the next two weeks to publish the document containing the names of the scholarship beneficiaries.

Speaking with newsmen at the weekend, the President of Ijaw Defenders Mandate, IDM, Comrade John Gbozimor, alleged that some aides of the immediate past Interim Administrator of PAP had shortchanged the names of the ex-agitators with other persons that were not part of the programme.

He insisted that the PAP must publish the names of the 1, 714 beneficiaries in the 2021/2022 PAP scholarship in national dailies to ascertain how many ex-agitators made the bogus list containing names of every Tom, Dick and Harry.

The group also called on the new Interim Administrator of PAP, Maj. Gen. Barry Tariye Ndiomu (retd) to immediately set up an audit panel to investigate the process that culminated in the 1, 714 scholarship awards to determine the exact number of ex-militants that benefitted from the scholarships awarded by Col. Milland Dikio.

It accused some aides of Col. Dikio of shortchanging the ex-agitators in scholarship scheme which it claimed was hurriedly put together by the aides for their selfish interests.

“We are giving the new Interim Administrator of PAP, Gen. Ndiomu (rtd) two weeks ultimatum to publish the list of the 1,714 beneficiaries of the scholarship within fourteen day, else. We will not hesitate to occupy the streets across the Niger Delta states to demand for the publication of the names of the beneficiaries of the scholarship.

“It is so painful that after we have sacrificed our lives in the Niger Delta struggle, now we cannot benefit from the scholarships meant for us in the Presidential Amnesty Programme. Rather, it is now strangers that have come to take our chances. Neither we, nor our children cannot gain Amnesty scholarships anymore.

“Most of us who voluntarily submitted our arms and ammunition to the federal government for the sake of peace in the Niger Delta region have been shortchanged.

“If that list of 1,714 scholarship is not published in the next two weeks, we may not have any other option than to embark on a massive peaceful protest across the Niger Delta states to demand our right”, President of Ijaw Defenders Mandate averred.

Meanwhile the Ijaw Integrity Movement, IIM, in a recent statement credited to one Brakumo Thomas had castigated the new Interim Administrator of PAP, Gen. Ndiomu over comments on the PAP scholarship racketeering, claiming that PAP’s scholarships were not sold to non Niger Deltans.

The group had accused Gen. Ndiomu of trying to cast aspersions on the immediate past interim administrator, Col. Dikio whom they accused of awarding 1000 scholarships as against the alleged actual figure 1,714 beneficiaries.

Comrade Gbozimor alleged that the immediate past Interim Administrator awarded 1,714 scholarships out of which 1, 662 beneficiaries were deployed in local institutions, whilie 52 were deployed in foreign institutions in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Ukraine and the United States of America (USA)

It was however alleged that a statement credited to the website of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in the last administration in an advert, to the public stated: “This is to inform the general public that the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Scholarship application form and portal is open to all interested and qualified Nigerians”.

Recall that during separate meetings with the new Interim Administrator, Gen. Ndiomu in Port Harcourt Rivers State, recently, chairmen of phases 1, 2 and 3 of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, HRH. Henry Binidodogha, Asu Tambo and Tonye Bobo, respectively, lamented how they (ex-agitators) had been shortchanged in the programme, regretting that after sacrificing their lives and voluntarily submitting their arms and ammunition to the federal government for the sake of peace in the Niger Delta region and Nigeria in general others have to come through the back door to takes their chances.

They however expressed hope that Gen. Ndiomu would match words with actions by implementing his good intentions to enable the ex-agitators to benefit, reiterating that, instead of becoming the key beneficiaries, they have rather been shortchanged over the years with nothing to show for their sacrifices which birthed the programme.

The Presidential Amnesty Programme was established to train the ex-militants to become entrepreneurs who will act as agents of change to reverse the narrative of a people dependent on stipends to become self-employed or employers of labour as net contributors to the economic prosperity of the Niger Delta.

Politics

CSO, PDP Bicker Over Fagbemi’s Stand On Osun LG Crisis

Published

20 hours ago

June 27, 2025

Editor

An Osun-based civil society group, The Osun Masterminds, has urged the State Government to respect the opinion of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, regarding the leadership crisis rocking local government areas in the state.

The group said Fagbemi, being the number one law officer of the federation, his opinions on issues relating to law are not just official, but are also binding.

This was disclosed by the Executive Director of the group, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, while speaking with journalists at the monthly media briefing of the organisation held in Osogbo on Friday.

Oyedokun-Alli, who said accused the state government of disregard for, not just the Appeal Court, but also the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, adding that the group has studied several legal positions on the Osun local government disputes and came to the conclusion that the government was swimming against the tide of clear court pronouncements.

“We are to point out, however, that the utter disregard for, not just the Appeal Court, but also the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, by the Osun State Government is a matter of grave concern. Where we understand that the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, is the number one Law Officer of the Federation, we must realise that his opinions are not just official, they are also binding.

“We have studied several legal positions on this matter, especially from highly revered silks who have dissected the pronouncements of the Court, and one thing remains obvious – the Osun State Government is swimming against the tide of clear Court pronouncements.

“The question that begs answers, however, is why the Osun State Government is so unwilling to work with Local Government Chairmen elected under a different political platform. Where we respect the principles of separation of powers, should we not be willing to work together even if the political parties are not the same? Has the APC-led Federal Government refused to work with the Adeleke Government because it is of the PDP?”, Oyedokun-Alli said.

Calling on the stakeholders to prevail on the Osun State Government to end the LG crisis, Oyedokun-Alli, however, urged the residents, regardless of party affiliation, to cohabitate in peace.

Responding to issues raised by the group, the spokesperson for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Oladele Bamiji, said TOM was a partisan organisation that has consistently supported the All Progressives Congress in the state.

Bamiji further said, “Their so-called ‘civil society’ posturing has long collapsed under the weight of its hypocrisy and shameless servitude to the dictates of APC in Osun and beyond, and it is sad they are dead to their dented image out there.

“TOM has again confirmed to the people of Osun that it is nothing but a busy body propaganda irritant of the APC, issuing monthly rankings, not out of civic concern but to earn its monthly stipend from its political sponsors.

“We find it laughable and frankly disturbing that any group claiming to possess civic literacy would hold binding the personal opinion of a political appointee like the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, over and above the ruling of a competent court of law.”
(PUNCH)

Politics

BREAKING: Confusion As APC Chair, Ganduje Resigns

Published

1 day ago

June 27, 2025

Editor

National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has resigned from his position, Saturday Vanguard has learned.

Although the exact circumstances surrounding his resignation remain unclear as of press time, a senior party official confirmed the development, stating simply, “Yes, it is true. He has resigned.”

Sources revealed that Ganduje’s personal belongings were earlier moved from his office at the APC national secretariat, further fueling speculation.

The development has thrown the party’s headquarters into confusion, with staff and visitors visibly shocked by the unexpected news.

Politics

‘Peace Has Returned To Rivers’ — Wike, Fubara Speak After Meeting Tinubu

Published

1 day ago

June 27, 2025

Editor

After months of political tension and division in Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, have publicly declared an end to their rift, assuring residents that peace has finally returned.

The truce followed a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Thursday night, where both leaders, along with other stakeholders, reached a resolution to work together for the state’s progress.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, expressed gratitude to God for the breakthrough.

Wike said, “I want to give God the glory that today is the 26th of June 2025, that peace has finally returned to the state. We all agreed to work together with the governor, and the governor also agreed to work together with all of us. We are members of the same political family.”

He acknowledged that disagreements are part of politics but emphasised that the resolution marked a fresh start for the state.

He said, “Just like humans, you have disagreements, and then you also have a time to also settle your disagreements, and that has been finally concluded today, and we have come to report to Mr President that is what we have agreed.

“So for me, everything is over, and I enjoin everybody to work together with everybody. There is no more acrimony; there is nothing to say. We have disagreed; we have all agreed on everything, so thank God. For me, it’s a day we have to thank almighty God.”

Governor Fubara, who also spoke to journalists, said the return of peace is crucial to the state’s development.

He said, “For me, it’s very important that this day has come to be. What we need for the progress of Rivers State is peace, and by the special grace of God this night, with the help of Mr President and the agreement of the leaders of the state, peace has returned to Rivers State.”

Fubara pledged to do everything within his power to sustain the peace, describing it as a step toward lasting stability and governance in the oil-rich state.