The Ogbia Brothers For Good Governance (OBGG) in Bayelsa State has called on fellow Niger Deltans in the oil-rich region "to stop the pull him drown syndrome" and to not only give maximum support to political appointees from the region but to also "guide them accordingly in the discharge of their functions."

The OBGG's call, as contained in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Amb. Azibagiri Itabai, is coming in reaction to a purported claim by one Nicholas Nathaniel, who is alleged to have been on "a campaign of falsehood that the Presidential Amnesty Programme is denying beneficiaries of Ogbia Local Government Area their stipends".

The OBGG praised Dr. Otuaro for raising the bar in the PAP, especially in its management of resources, timely payment of stipends and the deployment of a high number of students on scholarship even with the meager resources at his disposal.

"It is utter misrepresentation to state that amnesty beneficiaries from Ogbia Local Government Area are being denied their stipends. The Chief Dennis Otuaro led Amnesty Administration has raised the bar in the management of the Amnesty Programme thereby paying all verified amnesty beneficiaries including those from Ogbia Local Government Area that were affected by BVN issues.

"Despite the meagre allocation from the Federal Government, Chief Dennis Otuaro has judiciously managed the funds allocated to cover the payment of stipends, training and educational scholarships. As a matter of fact, the Dennis Otuaro led administration recorded the highest number of scholarships awarded in a single year in the history of the Presidential Amnesty Programme thereby deploying students more than those deployed in the last 6 years combined," the group added.

On the allegation being peddled, the group claimed that the said Nathaniel was not an ex-agitator but was rather impersonating one Kuroekegha Florah, an existing female identity, a fact he had hidden from the public.

"The Ogbia Brothers for Good Governance (OBGG) under the leadership of Amb. Azibagiri Itabai blatantly refutes the baseless and unfounded claims by one Nicholas Nathaniel who has been on a campaign of falsehood that the Presidential Amnesty Programme is denying beneficiaries of Ogbia Local Government Area their stipends. Ordinarily, we would not have responded to this whimsical and desperate quest for recognition by the said Nicholas Nathaniel, but to set the records straight and to guide the public against being misled, we deem it proper to make this statement.

"We boldly state that the said Nicholas Nathaniel was never an ex-agitator in the pre-amnesty arms agitation era. There is no record of Nicholas Nathaniel in the Asaraba Pillar camp he claimed to be a member. It is so unfortunate that this same Nicholas Nathaniel that we know in Bayelsa would shamelessly claim to be one and the same person as Kuroekegha Florah – a feminine name.

"Is Nicholas Nathaniel aware that there is a person with the identity of Kuroekegha Florah whom he fruitlessly impersonated? Is Nicholas Nathaniel aware that the real Kuroekegha Florah has numerous documents including NIN to prove that she is merely being impersonated by him (Nicholas Nathaniel)? Why did Nicholas Nathaniel hide these facts from the public? Why did Nicholas Nathaniel hide the fact that the purported matter against the Presidential Amnesty programme is still ongoing?" the group queried.

While limiting its comments on a litigation initiated by the said Nathaniel which is currently before the Port Harcourt Judicial Division of the Court of Appeal, the group urged the court to sanction the prosecutor for the "contemptuous act of discussing a matter" in the public that is before the court.

It said, "We would have delved into the nitty-gritty of the said litigation initiated by Nicholas Nathaniel but for the fact that the matter is currently before the Port Harcourt Judicial Division of the Court of Appeal, we decline to make further comments on the issue and allow the appellate court to carry out its judicial functions. We further urge the Justice of the Court of Appeal presiding over this matter to try the said Nathaniel Nicholas for the contemptuous act of discussing a matter that has become subjudice and if found wanting, convict and sentence him accordingly."

Amb. Itabai therefore warned that the group will continue to speak truth to power, fight for justice and condemn falsehood as integrity keepers of the society, stating that "we shall never condone any act of falsehood, misrepresentation, and deceit no matter the personality behind same. We shall continue to fight for justice and, at the same time, condemn falsehood as it does not depict a good image of the society.

"We urge our Ogbia brothers and Niger Deltans to stop the pull him drown syndrome but support our political appointees from the Niger Delta and guide them accordingly in the discharge of their functions."

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