INC HAILS APPOINTMENT OF NDIOMU AS INTERIM ADMINISTRATOR, PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY PROGRAM, CAUTIONS AGAINST RUMOURED PLAN TO SCRAP PROGRAM

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has congratulated Maj-Gen Barry Ndiomu (rtd) as the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Program (PAP) 

The apex sociocultural organisation of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, in a statement by its President, Prof Benjamin Okaba, said the appointment of the Odoni – born retired military officer was deserving, considering his vast experience in command and staff duties.

The group, in the statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Engr Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment and expressed confidence in the capacity of the appointee to deliver on the mandate of the Program.

It, however, urged Gen Ndiomu to strive to handle the huge responsibility placed on his shoulders with utmost diligence in order to take the Amnesty Program to the next level.

The INC used the opportunity to caution the Federal Government against the rumoured plan to scrap the Presidential Amnesty Program, as it would amount to attempting to go back to the days of militancy in the Niger Delta region.

The body noted that the Program, which was conceived after the ex-agitators surrendered their arms in 2009, had brought about sustainable peace in the Niger Delta and development in the country following uninterrupted oil exploration and exploitation in the region 

The foremost Ijaw group called on the Federal Government to seek ways to strengthen the Amnesty Program and make it more relevant to the ex-agitators, the impacted communities and the Niger Delta region in general.