By IDONGESIT ASHAMERI, Uyo

Niger Delta Volunteers (NDV) has supported the call by Akwa Ibom militants in the call for sack of the Presidential Amnesty Programme’s Interim Administrator Col. Milland Dixion Dikio (retd).

Recall that a group, ‘Uyekisong’ had last week initiated the campaign for the removal of Dikio for alleged discrimination and marginalization of militants from Akwa Ibom.

The group in a release made available to newsmen had demanded that Dikio be replaced with a substantive Special adviser/Coordinator.

In a statement signed by the NDV’s President General and his deputy, General Ekpo Ekpo and Capt. Nsidibe Etim, respectively and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Thursday, the supportung militant group is insisting on a total restructuring of the Programme, to meet its statutory mandate.

The group lamented that out of the 200 ex-agitators trained in vocational skills by Presidential Amnesty Programme non was Akwa Ibom indigene.

“We are deeply shocked to learn that over 200 delegates (ex-agitators) of PAP recently graduated from a six-month intensive classroom and working trainings in welding/fabrication, abrasive blasting, mechanical fittings, industrial painting and scaffolding/rigging under the 2019/2020 PAP Delegates programme, which was organized by the Amnesty Office and anchored by Bradama International Skills Ltd., Ese-Odo in Ondo State.

“Expectedly but sadly though, there was no delegate from Akwa Ibom State. This has gone to prove the allegation of non- inclusion of Akwa Ibom amnesty beneficiaries from trainings, empowerment and other activities of the Amnesty Programme.

“Besides, while the Amnesty Programme has offices with Coordinators in other States of the Niger Delta, there is none to coordinate the activities of the Programme in Akwa Ibom State”. The statement reads in part

According to them, since Dikio’s assumption of office, he has not formally met with relevant stakeholders, including ex-militants from Akwa Ibom State who are participating in the amnesty programme, to have their views and identify their challenges.

“We are, therefore, in strong support of UNYEKISONG in its recent demands for a comprehensive restructuring of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, to include the replacement of the Interim Administrator of the Programme with a substantive Coordinator, removal of the supervisory/oversight powers over the programme from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), as well as the reconstitution of the management of the programme with representatives from the nine Niger Delta states to ensure probity, transparency and all-inclusiveness.

The group threatened to join forces with all the ex-militants to shut down oil operations in Akwa Ibom State if demands are not genuinely addressed. (Daily Independent)

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