The Niger Delta Concerned Ex-Agitators (NDCE), a coalition of former militants in the region, has passed a vote of confidence on the Chairman of the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd).

The group in a recent statement issued in Port Harcourt said this has become important in order to counter the call made by certain faceless groups who parade themselves as Niger Delta Ex-agitators for the dismissal of the current chairman.

NDCE's Spokesman, Comrade Perewari Johnson in the statement, condemned the attitude of some persons he said do not want to see anything good in the current administration because Paul Boroh has refused to do their selfish biddings.

Johnson reiterated that anybody or group of persons calling for the removal of Boroh is an enemy of progress.

“No other person at Boroh's level has shown such commitment in developing the human capacity of the region. This can be evident in the series of business trainings, business development especially in the area of agriculture, and empowerment programmes going on in the region,” he said.

On payment of monthly stipends, the NDCE commended the chairman for his role in ensuring that all outstanding stipends are paid, adding that, “those ignorant groups who are saying the Chairman is delaying the payment of their stipends do not understand that the Amnesty Office does not run on its own, i.e. it has to depend on the Federal Government for adequate provision and we all know that the country is in recession.

“It shows the level of their irresponsibility, one will like to ask how they have spent the three months stipends just paid to them. And not long after they are calling for the head of the Chairman because more money has not been paid. Do they want him to go and steal or pay them from his pocket?” Johnson questioned.

He also explained that only in June, over 2, 000 former agitators from the region commenced training in Farming Technology at the College of Agriculture at Iguoriakhi in Edo State and over 200 have been enrolled for an all inclusive sports programme, “which will keep our youth gainfully engaged. And also over 1,000 youth are currently undergoing various skill acquisitions training programme in Bayelsa State. Just recently a number of Niger Delta youths have graduated from foreign universities in Russia and Belarus.”

The group’s scribe who commended President Muhammadu Buhari for increasing the Presidential Amnesty Programme budget by N35 billion, also hailed the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo for signing the 2017 budget and noted that a lot more is expected as soon as funds are made available.

The NDCE urged well meaning stakeholders and citizens not to allow “people with selfish interest to use them against their fellow Niger-Delta son who is doing so well.”

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