The Ijaw Publishers' Forum (IPF) led by its National President, Comrade Ozobo Austin, has declared its support for the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, High Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro.

The umbrella body of Ijaw publishers clarified its position at a world press conference on Thursday in Warri, Delta State, that its support for the PAP Boss is "not out of sentiment, politics, or personal gain, but out of an objective recognition of results, integrity, and purposeful leadership."

The IPF, in backing its decision, highlighted Otuaro's credentials of “Ph.D. in Comparative Politics and Development Studies, an M.Sc. in Public Administration, and a B.Sc. in Education” and his numerous achievements at the PAP, borne out of “capable” leadership since his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in March 2024.

According to the IPF, the achievements of Otuaro encompass moving beyond stipends to empowerment through human capital development, giving a human face to the PAP, expanding the scholarship scheme to accommodate more beneficiaries, engaging with stakeholders directly, deepening the peace in the region, and strategically repositioning the PAP "to deliver tangible value, particularly through education, vocational training, and stakeholder engagement for communities long impacted by militancy, environmental degradation, and underdevelopment."

In its position, Ozobo said, "We maintain that Dr. Otuaro’s stewardship has placed the Presidential Amnesty Programme on firmer footing in terms of transparency, accountability, and performance.

"It is in the interest of the Niger Delta people and Nigeria as a whole that the programme should not be derailed by those who prefer the status quo or view reform as a threat to entrenched interests.

"Genuine criticism and oversight are welcome — but what we are witnessing in certain quarters are attempts to undermine a capable, reform-minded leader through misdirection, misinformation, and vested-interest campaigns.

"For example, credible reports indicate that attacks on the Administrator have increased simply because he 'refused to open the coffers of the Amnesty Programme to certain groups of individuals',” he added.

The IPF therefore called on beneficiaries of the PAP and other stakeholders to continue to lend their support of Otuaro's reforms, to "media houses, civil society organisations and youth groups to offer constructive feedback rather than destructive opposition" as well as on "All arms of government — federal, state, and local — to give PAP the institutional backing it needs to fulfil its mandate."

On criticism, the Forum said that debates should "be about ideas and outcomes, not personalities," and that "Critics of Dr. Otuaro’s leadership to substantiate their allegations transparently and through proper channels, rather than behind the cover of gossip, clandestine campaigns, or destabilising tactics."

Going further, the IPF concluded that "We assert that the future of the Niger Delta and the wellbeing of its people will not be served by retreating into old patterns. For the Presidential Amnesty Programme to deliver on its promise of reintegration, empowerment, and development, it must be allowed to evolve under capable stewardship.

"Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro has demonstrated the aptitude, commitment, and vision required for this task. We pledge our continued support for his success — and we urge others to abandon partisan posturing and join in the collective work of transforming the Niger Delta for the better."

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