Former militants in Edo state under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Phase 3, are begging President Muhammadu Buhari to address the issue of alleged marginalization in allocation of slots to beneficiaries of the programme in the state.
“We are begging our President to correct this imbalance so as to avoid unnecessary tension in the region. We believe in President Buhari to do the needful as a man that stands for justice and one who fights for the oppressed,” the former militants said.
Speaking to newsmen in Benin City, the ex-militants commended the president for appointing retired Brig-General Paul Boroh, to oversee the affairs of the programme in the South/South geo-political region, Vanguard reports.
According to the repentant militants, Boroh’s appointment would go a long way to douse the current tension arising from the implementation of non-payment of outstanding allowance to ex-militants.
They added that it would further address the anomalies in the amnesty programme.
The spokesman for the group, Abiodun Edah, said they made several attempts to get the former coordinator of the programme, Kinsley Kuku, to address the anomalies but they were not successful, attributing the failure bureaucratic bottlenecks.
He said: “The slot so far made available to the 3rd phase of the programme should be shared equitably devoid of any political coloration.
“The amnesty programme of the federal government is the blood testimony of the Niger Delta struggle and must not be targeted to particular people due to their influence. Our people in the 3rd phase Amnesty programme have not been recognized.”
About 500 former militants under the amnesty programme recently threatened to unleash mayhem in the Niger Delta region over the non-payment of their three-month allowances by the amnesty office.
Contrary to the claims of the ex-militants, the federal government has denied owing them. The amnesty office stated that all monthly payments to ex-militants under the programme were up to date. The head of media and communication in the presidential amnesty office, Owei Lakemfa said if there was any under payment or deduction, this should be brought to the notice of the programme for investigation.
Source: Naij.com
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