PAP: IYC commend Buhari over appointment of Ndiomu, insist on substantive NDDC board

Leadership of the Umbrella body of Ijaw Youths worldwide, the Ijaw Youth Council has commended President Muhammadu Buhari over the appointment of Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd) as the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme(PAP), describing the appointment as commendable and welcomed.

But the group insisted that it would have been better if President Muhammadu Buhari had make the appointment substantive
and immediately also appoint a substantive Board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with the speed of light as it was done in the PAP.

The Ijaw Youths Council, through its National Spokesman, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, in a statement issued in Yenagoa, said though the appointment of Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu is welcomed and well deserving, but the people of the Niger Delta would have been more happy with the appointment being substantive and the board of the NDDC.

According to Ekerefe, “it is extremely sad that since the inception of President Buhari’s administration, the PAP and the NDDC that has direct bearing to the Niger delta region has not been giving the full capacity to carry out its mandate. The Council considers this in bad faith and insist that the NDDC substantive board should be set up to invalidate the impression the Niger delta region has about the Buhari’s government.

However, Comrade Ekerefe called on the newly appointed Interim administrator to shun any divisive calls by known sycophants to derail him on the part of chasing shadows, but focus on building a more positive and proper inter-agency line of communication with the PAP beneficiaries across the region. Pay monthly stipends promptly, have regular interactive sections/engagements with stakeholders in the region.

The new administrator should also provide the needed transition that is expected to sustain the existing paradigm shift on the programme in terms of relative peace across the region, change in mindset of ex-agitators, upward oil production, entrepreneurship and engagements with stakeholders.

He said managing ex agitators is the most difficult job that can be giving to anybody as available evidences has shown in the past, but with Idiomu’s experience as an ex military general and his love for his people, no doubt, the stability of the program in the Dikio’s era will be sustained.

Consequent upon this, Major General Barry Idiomu(Rtd) has the full assurances and cooperation of the Ijaw Youth Council to achieving his ideas and purpose for the program and region at large, especially, in the areas of peace building, security and development.

​In his commendation of the administration of PAP led by Col. Dikio (rtd), the National Spokesman of IYC noted that under Dikkio , the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) introduced laudable initiatives and his constant visit to the region to have stakeholders engagements endeared him to the people. The novel Train Employ and Mentor Scheme, (TEM), with the first graduation of 349 ex-agitators.

“And more-so,​ on the recent deployment of over 1,400, ex-agitators who are beneficiaries of the PAP to acquire skills on Aeronautical engineering, Agriculture,​ Oil​ & Gas, Maritime, Clean up or Oil Spillages, among others are footprints of the Col Dikio’s reign.

“No doubt Col Dikio’s passion and commitment to peace in the region was immeasurable. As you all know managing ex agitators is the most difficult jobAs Council, we will continue to which him well in his future endeavors and pray God to guide and protect him in every of his engagements.”

Tife Owolabi
Journalist
Niger Delta
@tifeowolabi