The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, High Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has kick-started an expanded stakeholders' meeting in the. Niger Delta region that will see the agency of federal government reach out to traditional rulers, opinion leaders, women groups, youth bodies, community leaders, elders and camp leaders in order to deepen and sustain the existing peace in the region.

The first phase of the expanded stakeholders' meeting kicked-off with the PAP Boss engagement with Delta State traditional rulers at the KFT Place in Warri, on Monday, September 23, 2024.

Dr. Otuaro in his presentation thanked the traditional institutions he described as critical stakeholders for their support for the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration and urged the royal fathers to continue to give their support to the president who is working hard to bring back the country to the path of economic prosperity.

The Administrator briefed the royal fathers on the ongoing reforms in the amnesty programme which he revealed has many areas of interest, ranging from education, scholarship, vocational training, grant/loan among others, in its bid to broaden the participation of stakeholders in its initiatives.

The PAP Boss re-emphasised that the Office is working hard to continue its expansion of the programme to accommodate more beneficiaries especially traditional rulers, women groups, elders and youth bodies from the region as impacted beneficiaries, to the already captured 30,000 delegates in the programme.

Dr. Otuaro also informed traditional rulers, that as part of deepening the peace process in the region, the federal government is working out plans to mop up small firearms from armed youths in Niger Delta communities as well as incorporate such youths into the programme in order to sustain the existing peace in the Niger Delta region in particular, and Nigeria at large.

He therefore appealed to the traditional rulers as critical stakeholders to support the initiatives of the amnesty programme so that the peace can be sustained which is needed for infrastructural, human capital development and other positive developments to thrive.

In their reaction, the Pere of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom in the Bomadi Local Government Area, HRM Pere Kalanama VIII, who is the 1st vice chairman of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, appreciated the PAP Administrator for his laudable initiatives in reforming the amnesty programme to meet the yearnings of the people, an act he said the traditional rulers "are very impressed".

His Majesty prayed to God to give Dr. Otuaro the wisdom to continue to pilot the affairs of the programme to achieve its set goals.

Also speaking, the Ibenanaowei of Ogulagha Kingdom in the Burutu L.G.A., HRM King Capt. Joseph Timiyan JP, who is the Chairman of Delta ljaw Traditional Rulers Forum, described Dr. Otuaro as one of the best Administrators appointed by the federal government since the inception of the programme.

Also, HRM, Justice F. F. Tabai, the lbenanaowei of Tuomo Kingdom in Burutu L.G.A. advised the PAP Boss to focus more on the educational sector, especially the scholarship programme, so as to reform the mindsets of ex-agitators back to the society, just he appealed to the Administrator to always involve the traditional rulers in the activities of the programme as they are ready to support him to deliver on the assignment given to him.

Highlight of the meeting was the rendition of a 'Happy Birthday to you' song by the traditional rulers to the amazement of Dr. Otuaro, the celebrant, whose birthday coincided with the kick-off of the expanded stakeholders' meeting on Monday.

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