The Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) has declared its full support for the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, High Chief Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, commending what it described as his transformative leadership and result-oriented reforms.
The group, led by its National President, Comrade Ozobo Austin, made the declaration during a world press conference held on Thursday in Warri, Delta State.
According to the Forum, its endorsement of Otuaro’s administration is “not born out of sentiment, politics, or personal interest,” but stems from “objective recognition of integrity, transparency, and purposeful leadership” since his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in March 2024.
Ozobo said the Forum’s position was informed by the visible impact of Otuaro’s policies on former agitators and the wider Niger Delta region, noting that the PAP under his watch has “moved from mere payment of stipends to real empowerment through human capital development.”
He further highlighted the Administrator’s credentials; Ph.D. in Comparative Politics and Development Studies, M.Sc. in Public Administration, and B.Sc. in Education as evidence of his competence and capacity to drive reforms in the sensitive intervention agency.
“Dr. Otuaro’s stewardship has placed the Presidential Amnesty Programme on firmer footing in terms of transparency, accountability, and performance,” Ozobo said. “It is in the interest of the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large that his reforms are supported, not sabotaged by those who fear change or wish to sustain the old order.”
The Forum also commended the Administrator’s strides in expanding the PAP scholarship scheme, fostering peace through stakeholder engagement, and repositioning the programme to deliver tangible value via education, vocational training, and community development initiatives.
However, Ozobo lamented what he described as “coordinated attacks and misinformation” targeted at the PAP boss by vested interests opposed to his reform agenda.
“Credible reports show that some of the attacks stem from his refusal to open the PAP coffers to certain individuals. Instead, he has chosen to run the office with integrity and accountability,” he stated.
The IPF urged PAP beneficiaries, civil society groups, and youth organisations to rally behind Otuaro’s vision, offering constructive feedback rather than destructive criticism.
It also called on the Federal, State, and Local Governments to provide the necessary institutional support to ensure the success of the amnesty programme.
“Debate should be about ideas and outcomes, not personalities,” the Forum stressed. “Critics must substantiate their claims through proper channels, not through gossip or clandestine campaigns.”
Concluding, the group maintained that the Niger Delta cannot afford a return to “old patterns of waste and patronage,” insisting that Dr. Otuaro has shown the commitment, capacity, and vision required to deliver on the PAP’s mandate of reintegration, empowerment, and regional development.
“We stand firmly behind Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro and his reform agenda. The task of transforming the Niger Delta is a collective one, and it is time for all stakeholders to join hands in moving the region forward,” the statement added.
