The Ex-Agitators’ Leadership Forum (EALF), Bayelsa State Chapter, has urged Dr Samuel Ogbuku, the sole administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), not to support the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Maj. Gen. Barry Ndiomu (rtd), against them, claiming that such a move would harm their relationship with the NDDC.
High Chief Charles James Kurobo, chairman of the ex-agitators’ forum, made this appeal in Yenagoa, saying they are disheartened because they are no longer comfortable with the components of the amnesty program set up by the Federal Government to sustain the peace enjoyed in the Niger Delta region.
According to the forum, their call for the PAP boss’s dismissal is irreversible because Gen. Ndiomu has continued to turn deaf ears and blind eyes to their plights, while pleading with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), and Inspector General of Police (IGP) to urgently intervene and encourage Ndiomu to redirect his steps towards the program’s context and goals.
Chief Kurobo stated to newsmen in Yenagoa that “the reigning peace in the region is sustained to attract investors” has become a common saying or slogan, so to speak, and we are no longer comfortable when components set up by the federal government to sustain the peace enjoyed thus far are the ones pushing the said peace to fragility.
“We’ve done our best, and we’re proud of it.” We also value the world’s understanding of corporate approaches to addressing issues beyond street agitations, but it is also our responsibility to inform the world that the appointees mandated by the federal government in some quarters to manage and sustain peace are the ones driving us back to the streets because they thrive more during chaos and crisis.
“As much as we don’t want to be seen as gullible for such antics, Gen. Ndiomu’s deft ears and blind eyes towards Bayelsa State’s first phase leaders can no longer be tolerated because we are already overstretched.” You can’t expect us to stay off the streets if you purposefully put us in poverty, and to be honest, we’ve reached the end of that line because the IA has given us no room.
“We simply cannot go on like this.” We have made a number of pleas on the status of the PAP as a result of Major Gen. Barry Ndiom’s despicable behavior, and we, the Ex-agitators’ Leadership Forum, Bayelsa status Chapter, have stated that we would not tolerate this any longer!
“We are once again urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to immediately suspend and arrest the interim Administrator of the PAP, whose continued tenure may spark another regional crisis from ex-militants who genuinely gave up arms.”
“He is constantly creating space for a crisis he cannot manage by making appointments on our behalf and introducing figures we cannot identify or pointing out their roles during the conflict.” Such a position as “National Chairman of Ex-agitators” has never been heard of.
“Sponsoring people for publications with titles just so they can attend secret meetings like the one held recently in Port Harcourt where the NDDC played host, was not in the interest of peace or the Ex-agitators’ Leadership forum because chapters were in attendance, including Bayelsa State, meaning we were not invited, Bayelsa State Chapter.”
