MARGINALIZATION: Akwa Ibom Group Laments Alleged Exclusion From Presidential Amnesty Programme

Apparently dissatisfied with the programme meant to better the lots of people from the oil producing region, the ex Niger Delta agitators from Akwa Ibom State have lamented the alleged exclusion from the Presidential Amnesty Programme which was introduced in 2009.

The group claimed that the programme only benefits repented militants from Bayelsa  , Delta , Rivers , which in turn prompted them to raise for concern.

Recall that in 2009  late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, introduced the programme as part of measures to empower youths from the south south  oil rich region .

The Akwa Ibom group alleged that the programme has derailed from its original mandate under its present coordinator, Professor Charles Dokubo.

According to a statement by group’s coordinator, General Ekpo Ekpo and 7 others, the ex-agitators said they were being marginalized and excluded from various trainings of the programme meant to benefit them.l

The ex-militants also called on the anti-graft agencies which included the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC to launch a full scale auditing of the books of the Amnesty office following reports of corruption.

”We, the members of the Niger Delta Volunteers hereby write to register our protest over the continued marginalization and neglect of Akwa Ibom Ex-Militants by the Office of the Co-ordinator of the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme and demand the immediate removal of the Special Adviser – Prof. Charles Dokubo and re-structuring of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme to ensure the fulfilment of the programme’s mandate”.

“While we appreciate the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in sustaining the Amnesty programme, it appears that these efforts are being frustrated by the Amnesty office.

”As presently constituted, the office lacks the moral capacity to successfully carry out its mandate as a result of the display of tribal traits by its leaders.

“For instance, since the National Co-ordinator/Special Adviser of the Programme – Prof. Charles Dokubo assumed duties, Ex-militants of Akwa Ibom State origin have been sidelined in all the activities of the programme, despite the huge contribution of our State to the country’s oil revenue.

“Our people have been neglected and discriminated against for no just cause. Invitations to meetings and other important events that demand the participation of ex-militants in the Niger Delta region, as well as the decisions of the Amnesty programmes, are never communicated to Akwa Ibom leaders.

“Akwa Ibom people have been excluded from the trainings and empowerment programs organized by the Amnesty office since the assumption of the present administration of the Amnesty Program whereas other states like Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, etc. are undergoing training and empowerment programmes on monthly basis.l

The group added that ” Even names of some of Ex-Militants from Akwa Ibom State, who are still alive, have been removed from the amnesty payroll and replaced with people from other states for some years now without any explanation, thus making it impossible for these members to continue receiving their monthly stipends.”