PAP: Caretaker Committee a Threat to National Security – IWC

The Ijaw Women Connect Worldwide, IWC has branded the reported attempt by the federal government through the National Security Adviser to constitute an interim committee to oversee the Presidential Amnesty Program.

In a statement signed by the President IWC Worldwide, Comrade Rosemary Graham-Naingba, the group labeled the the NSA’s attempt as a ‘threat to peaceful coexistence’ that could lead to a breakdown of law and order in the country.

Comrade Rosemary reminded the presidency that the PAP program is purely an intervention agency geared towards bringing lasting peace to the volatile Niger Delta Region in a bid to stabilize the nation’s economy.

IWC called on President Buhari to allow stakeholders in the region to nominate credible representatives to lead the PAP program.

The group further tasked the presidency to constitute a substantive working committee without delay while suing for the maintenance of peace in the volatile Niger Delta.

The statement thus reads;

“It is rumoured that the National Security Adviser (NSA) Mr. Babagana Monguno, has constituted an interim management committee to oversee and coordinate the administrative responsibilities of the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme.”

This to us implies that we are perceived as a subjugated people by those in government and unworthy of being consulted as citizens, over matters that affect our people and region. It constitutes a threat to peaceful co-existence and may generate to a breakdown of law and order in the Niger Delta Region should these names being promoted, are confirmed and the persons allowed to man the affairs of the agency. The names:

1. Mr. A.A. Lawal -Chairman.
2. Col. Udoma -Secretary.
3. Mr. Anthony S.A. (Legal)-Member.
4. Brig-Gen Mohammed -Director Of Finance And Administration (DFA).

And one other person to represent the Secretary to the Federal Government, SGF.

“We declare that, the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme, is an interventionist agency established to house the Ex-Agitators with a mandate as structured by the Late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua, to bring lasting peace to the volatile Niger Delta Region and halt the collapse of the Nigerian economy that resulted from the intensity of the Militancy/ agitations from 2006-2009.”

“As Mothers of Ijaw Nation and Stakeholders who have been involved in the clamour for a peaceful region, we affirm that should these names be announced, a phase of disruptive agitations, whose impact or end no one can foretell, will be unleashed not only on the oil rich Niger Delta region, but the country at large.”

“We hope and pray that your administration will take fatherly, pragmatic action to ensure that these dire portends do not manifest in reality. Nigeria bleeds in different areas today. The land and people hurt deeply. We cannot afford to open another gash in the bleeding, limping land.”

“With all due respect, please be reminded that today, the oil sector experiences uncommon, subsisting peace due to the successful structuring of an engaging programme of training, skills, empowerment and containment of anger and agitation by the Presidential Amnesty Programme. The benefits reflect in the oil sector experiencing stability and the Nigerian economy primed for the effective running of the Federal System.”

“As Ijaw Mothers, we use this medium to call on President Muhammadu Buhari, to ensure that stakeholders are given the opportunity to nominate those who should be saddled with the responsibility of running the affairs of the agency.”

“It is an interventionist body for Niger Deltans, therefore Northerners can not manage an agency they know nothing about. It would be a disservice to the people of the Region and the relative peace enjoyed now, maybe greatly threatened.”

“We declare that just as persons other than those from affected, stakeholding communities in the North East, cannot manage the North East Development Commission, no other region can manage the affairs of the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme due to its peculiar origins and ecological specificities.”

“It is on this note that as Mothers, the nurturers of life in the Niger Delta, we seek the intervention of Mr. President to swiftly address these issues to de-escalate the growing tensions and national threats, we observe.”

“Peace is priceless and we all can testify to the stability in the oil sector and corresponding boom in the Nigerian economy.”

“Unfortunately, it appears as if the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme has been hijacked by a few persons in the government who imagine that they own the country more than citizens from other regions.”

“If this widespread perception is reinforced through a Presidential nod given to the promoters of this insulting, derogatory scheme to impose an unwanted Caretaker Committee peopled by persons from the North definitely, there will be sustained resistance. And this resistance may lead to the break down of law, and order and threats to life and the economy.”

“We respectfully counsel that, Mr. President should for the sake of stability in the oil sector, appoint a Coordinator immediately from among competent Ijaw people.”

“We are watching the unfolding events, as we fear that certain elements will not hesitate to shut down all the oil platforms in Ijaw land. We have made our observations and fears known. We will not be held responsible should there be a breakdown of law and order in the region.”

“We strongly suggest that a New Coordinator be appointed to man the affairs of the PAP. Constituting an Interim committee of Northerners will only encourage violence. The Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme is well structured with a mandate to manage the training and empowerment of the beneficiaries of the programme.”

It will be recalled that the president earlier sacked Professor Charles Dokubo as PAP boss while setting up an interim committee that has been greeted with backlash from various quarters in the Niger Delta.

Comments

comments