The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has called on ex-agitators and stakeholders in the Niger Delta to remain focused and resist manipulation by political actors plotting to destabilise the region ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the close of a three-day Strategic Leadership, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Mediation Training, held in partnership with the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja, from July 30 to August 1, 2025, Otuaro emphasized the need for vigilance and unity in the region. The training was the second batch of the ongoing capacity-building efforts for PAP beneficiaries.
In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Igoniko Oduma, Otuaro expressed concern over a rise in politically motivated rhetoric targeting the amnesty programme and attempting to incite distrust between beneficiaries and the Federal Government.
“Some desperate politicians are trying to pitch ex-agitators against the government for selfish reasons. These antics are reckless, divisive, and must be rejected,” he said.
Otuaro, who presented certificates to the participants and hosted them to a reception at the PAP headquarters, described the efforts to mislead ex-agitators as dangerous and unnecessary, especially at a time when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has shown unprecedented commitment to the Niger Delta’s growth.
He pointed out that under President Tinubu’s leadership, the PAP has witnessed improved funding and strategic policy direction, enabling the programme to reach more beneficiaries and strengthen reintegration and rehabilitation initiatives.
“We must acknowledge and appreciate President Tinubu’s genuine support for the Presidential Amnesty Programme and our region. He has not only expanded the programme’s budget but also ensured that Niger Deltans are appointed to strategic roles in key federal agencies. That level of inclusion is historic,” Otuaro noted.
He further appealed to all ex-agitators and regional stakeholders to guard the peace and avoid being drawn into confrontational political games, stressing that the future of the region depends on sustained unity and development.
“The President means well for us. No other leader has demonstrated such goodwill in both policy and action. Our response must be one of support, not division,” he said.
Otuaro reaffirmed his dedication to the PAP’s core mission of human capital development, empowerment, and lasting peace. He urged traditional rulers, community leaders, and civil society groups to intensify sensitisation efforts, especially among youths, to resist being used as tools of political destabilisation.
“The gains we’ve made so far must not be sacrificed on the altar of political mischief. Cooperation, not conflict, is the way forward for the Niger Delta,” he concluded.
