In a released press statement signed by its President, Frank Ebikabo; and its Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, the Ijaw Youth Network, IYN, has alleged plots to derail the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, in the Niger Delta region, arising from constant attacks and blackmail they said which were part of a coordinated campaign against the Administrator, High Chief Dr Dennis Otuaro.

The IYN's reaction is coming on the heels of attacks by a so-called group, the Niger Delta Concerned Youths for Change, on Otuaro whom the group accuse of mismanagement of the Programme.

Describing the allegation as “baseless, malicious, and unfounded" the IYN said the attacks were aimed at giving the PAP Administrator a bad name and to distract him from the remarkable works he is doing in the Niger Delta.

They further maintained that the serial attacks and blackmail against Otuaro are a demonstration of pure hatred for the Administrator who had blocked all loopholes which the misguided attackers, blackmailers and their sponsors were using to siphon funds meant for execution of the programme's mandate.

“Every other week, a new ghost group springs up with similar accusations, a pattern designed to harass and discredit a man whose only offence is his diligence, transparency, and love for the Niger Delta," they stated.

While they stressed that “all such wicked plots to derail the programme will fail like others before them", the IYN strongly condemned the attacks and blackmail and urged the discerning public to discountenance them.

Ebikabo and Ebiaridor said that the PAP Administrator had sanitized the PAP through deliberate reforms which had led to expansion of the programme's scholarship and vocational training schemes to create more opportunities for the former agitators and beneficiaries of the programme.

"The Presidential Amnesty Programme under the leadership Dr Dennis Otuaro has focused on, and expanded youth empowerment, education, and skills acquisition, all geared towards human capacity development in the Niger Delta and fostering peace and stability in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

“He has brought renewed energy, direction, and purpose to the initiative. The Presidential Amnesty Programme has become a pride of the Federal Government and a reference point in post-conflict reintegration and rehabilitation management," the IYN added.

The IYN also questioned the legitimacy of the accusers, describing the so-called Niger Delta Concerned Youths for Change as a fictitious organisation with shadowy characters like Comrade Lion Ogorry.

The group further alleged that the real target of the sustained devilish attacks by the misguided elements is to blackmail the President Tinubu, who appointed him to reposition the PAP. 

The IYN called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and other relevant institutions to resist being used as tools in a smear campaign, and urged all Niger Deltans to rally behind the PAP Administrator.

“We say unequivocally: Leave Dr Dennis Otuaro alone. He is doing an excellent job. The people of the Niger Delta, including ex-agitators, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders are solidly behind him,” the statement concluded.

The Ijaw group also cautioned that public officials from other ethnic nationalities are not blackmailed with such recurring intensity and urged the stakeholders to take steps to stop the ugly situation.

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