In a resounding endorsement, ex-agitators from the Niger Delta region have commended the performance of Dr. Dennis Otuaro, Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
The ex-agitators, who convened in Port Harcourt to assess PAP’s progress under Otuaro’s leadership, praised his actions and achievements as aligning with the programme’s mandate.
They noted that Otuaro’s leadership has been marked by significant strides in promoting peace and security in the Niger Delta.
They said Otuaro’s commitment to the programme’s objectives has earned him the admiration of ex-agitators and stakeholders.
His efforts to empower beneficiaries through vocational training and education have been particularly noteworthy.
As the ex-agitators urged stakeholders to continue supporting Otuaro, they also acknowledged the programme’s impact on their lives.
Many beneficiaries have received quality training and high-level manpower skills, enabling them to become self-sufficient and independent.
The meeting was at the instance of the National Chairman of First Phase Ex-Agitators, His Royal Highness Henry Binidodogha, aka Egbeme one, the king of Ofunama kingdom and the Secretary-General, First Phase Ex-agitators, Gen. Nature Dumale Kiegha.
Speaking for the ex-agitators after the meeting, King Binidodogha said they were particularly happy that in less than one year of his appointment had successfully deployed 1,700 students in different tertiary institutions under the PAP Scholarship Scheme.
He said Otuaro also ensured that 10 scholarship students in special fields of study were sent to foreign institutions in the UK, USA and Canada in his quest to develop the needed critical manpower in the region.
The king said: “We have also seen results in education this period. Under Otuaro without the usual rancour, protests and other crisis, 316 scholarship students graduated from their various universities. About 41 of them also graduated from the Nigerian Law School.
“We also noticed that 10 foreign scholarship students completed their studies. In time past, we had students protesting lack of logistics non-payment of school fees bringing embarrassment and shame to the scheme. But under Otuaro students only face their studies because they know that their logistics, welfare and fees will be paid on time”.
He said the ex-agitators also reviewed the handling of verification and orientation exercises under the current administrator and discovered that 1,594 scholarship students in 122 institutions were verified and participated in orientation exercises in line with the students charter and formal education policies.
“We also discovered in our review that PAP under Otuaro has a way of ensuring quality and standard for its scholarship students by constantly keeping in touch with the universities.
“For instance, PAP’s delegation inspected facilities at six universities, including Nigerian Maritime University, Gregory University among others to ensure quality standards. So, they are always on ground to monitor situations”, he said.
King Binidodogha said Otuaro ensured Gender balance in deployment of scholarship students adding that through constant verification, Otuaro discovered that 16 students absconded from their programmes and saved N41million for PAP.
In his remarks, the Secretary-General, First Phase Ex-agitators Gen. Nature Dumale Kiegha, said Otuaro’s constant engagement with all the stakeholders in the region had helped to deepen the peace in the Niger Delta region.
He said the PAP boss had maintained constant interactions with critical stakeholders such as youths, traditional rulers, women groups and community leaders and ensured that PAP events were held within the Niger Delta region.
The king called on all stakeholders in the region to support Otuaro to enable him achieve more feats and warned against any attempt to pull him down.
Nature acknowledged the support of President Tinubu for the programme through his National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and appealed to the President to allocate more funds to PAP.
Ex-Agitators Laud PAP Boss Otuaro’s Performance, Urge Continuous Support is first published on The Whistler Newspaper