Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Federal Government has rescinded its earlier plans to terminate the Presidential Amnesty Programme for repentant agitators in the Niger Delta region.
The Interim Administrator, PAP, Maj-Gen Barry Ndiomu, rtd, confirmed the government’s new position at the weekend.
Ndiomu, in statement issued by PAP’s Media Consultant, Dornu Kogbara, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for listening, when critical stakeholders across the region were strongly opposed to the winding down of the programme.
The PAP boss who explained that all responsible stakeholders nevertheless support change and share his view that the programme needs to be totally refocused and restructured, added that the government weighed the arguments presented to them, based on their merits, and decided to suspend the planned shutdown.
He further said the federal government’s willingness to retrace its steps demonstrated the sensitivity of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to issues affecting the Niger Delta.
“The Federal Government has heard the concerns of Niger Delta people and, with our best interests at heart, has decided to shelve an unwanted termination agenda and transform PAP into a more sanitized, transparent, efficient, robust and sustainable entity.
“The decision was taken after the feelings of stakeholders and people of the region were communicated to the government and proves that the Buhari’s administration will not do anything to jeopardize the peace in the Niger Delta.
“We call on all stakeholders to sustain the peace in the region and help the new administration reform, refocus and reposition the programme for optimum performance,” Ndiomu said.
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