The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has called on the people of the Niger Delta to throw their weight behind the recent declaration by the leaders of the South South All Progressives Congress (APC) endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as their sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Dr. Otuaro made this appeal during an interview granted to a select group of journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, where he spoke extensively on the significance of the endorsement and the implications for the development trajectory of the Niger Delta region.
He emphasized that the resolution adopted by the APC leaders and governors across the South South states represents a strategic and commendable step towards consolidating the gains the region has recorded under President Tinubu’s leadership.
According to Otuaro, “What the South South APC leaders and governors did was the right way to reward a sincere and committed leader who has demonstrated, in very practical and visible terms, his love and consideration for the region and its people.”
He recalled that leaders of the APC drawn from Edo, Delta, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States, together with stakeholders and party faithful from other parts of the South South geopolitical zone, had converged in Benin City on July 5, 2025, where they unanimously endorsed President Tinubu for a second term.
Dr. Otuaro commended this collective decision, stressing that the Niger Delta has benefited significantly from the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration, which he described as “well-implemented, strategic, and focused on addressing long-standing developmental deficits.”
Highlighting some of the landmark achievements of the administration, he noted that President Tinubu has demonstrated uncommon commitment to the region’s progress through:
Strategic appointments that have brought capable sons and daughters of the Niger Delta into key federal positions.
Initiation and funding of transformative infrastructure projects, including the much-publicized Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which he described as “a vital artery for commerce, tourism, and national integration.”
Establishment of new institutions, such as the Maritime University, Okerenkoko and the Federal University of Environment and Technology in Ogoniland, which are geared towards equipping youths with skills for emerging sectors.
The signing into law of the bill establishing the South South Development Commission, a move Otuaro described as “historic,” alongside the intensification of federal support for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
He argued that no previous administration had demonstrated such consistent goodwill in both policy and action, underscoring that these achievements are proof that President Tinubu’s intentions for the region are genuine and worthy of reciprocal support.
Dr. Otuaro further stated:
“His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has not hidden his intention to develop the South South and the Niger Delta. That is why he has given this level of attention to the Lagos-Calabar Expressway and other priority projects.”
He urged traditional rulers, community leaders, youth organizations, and civil society actors across the region to unite behind the decision of the APC leaders in order to ensure the Niger Delta maintains a strong voice and influence in national affairs.
“I urge the South South and the Niger Delta people to embrace the informed position of the APC leaders to sustain the region’s ability to attract more development through a listening leader,” he said.
In a pointed message to young people and beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Otuaro cautioned them to remain vigilant and avoid being manipulated by politicians who he described as “desperate and driven by selfish ambitions that do not align with the collective interest of the Niger Delta.”
He continued:
“I also advise the youths of the region and delegates of the Presidential Amnesty Programme not to allow themselves to be used by politicians with intentions inimical to the progress of our region. I know that many will soon besiege our streets with their deceptive antics out of desperation for votes. But we all can attest to what the President has done, and we are informed enough to know who is sincere with the desired development of our region.”
Dr. Otuaro concluded by reiterating that what President Tinubu deserves from the Niger Delta is sustained partnership and unflinching support as the country approaches the next general election cycle:
“What this President deserves is our continued support and contribution to his reelection in 2027. We owe it to ourselves to protect and consolidate the gains already recorded for the Niger Delta.”
The call by Dr. Otuaro adds momentum to the growing chorus of endorsements from prominent leaders and stakeholders across the South South, reflecting the region’s strategic importance in Nigeria’s politics and the determination of its people to be aligned with the centre of power in pursuit of accelerated development.
