the attention of the Ex-Agitators Genuine Leaders Forum has been drawn to a recent statement credited to one Mr. Owus Owupele, who falsely parades himself as the chairman of a group known as the Ex-Agitators Voice. In his statement, Mr. Owupele called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sack the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro. This call is not only baseless but also laughable, as it exposes a lack of understanding of the operational framework and chain of command guiding the Amnesty Programme.I, General Occasion, Chairman of the Ex-Agitators Genuine Leaders Forum, wish to categorically state that Mr. Owupele does not represent the views of genuine ex-agitators who have benefitted from the programme and are witnesses to the ongoing transformations going on in the amnesty programme, I want to ask you mr Owus, are you a leader? Mr. Owupele’s outburst appears to be a politically motivated campaign aimed at undermining the ongoing reforms and rigorous verification process currently being undertaken by the Otuaro-led administration. We strongly suspect that this campaign is being sponsored by individuals who feel threatened by the transparent and accountable approach now being implemented.To those raising false alarms and sponsoring propaganda, we ask: are you afraid of the truth being uncovered? Are you opposed to the cleansing process targeting individuals who have illegally diverted funds meant for genuine beneficiaries? If so, then you are clearly enemies of the programme and of the Niger Delta people who have long yearned for accountability and justice.Under Dr. Dennis Otuaro’s leadership, the Amnesty Programme is gradually returning to its original blueprint — focusing on the empowerment, education, and sustainable reintegration of ex-agitators. For the first time in years, individuals who were trained but not empowered have been contacted for re-training and empowerment. The backlog of outstanding school fees is also being addressed, with clearance processes already underway.We, the genuine leaders of ex-agitators, stand firmly behind Dr. Otuaro. His commitment to transparency, reform, and empowerment is commendable. Those who wish to see the downfall of the Amnesty Programme are the ones resisting the positive changes taking place. But we will not allow selfish interests to derail the progress we have made.We call on the Presidency and the National Security Adviser to disregard distractions from unverified groups and continue supporting the Administrator as he works to reposition the Amnesty Programme for the benefit of all legitimate stakeholders.
Signed,
Gen. Occasion chairman, Ex-Agitators Genuine Leaders Forum.
