•PAP committee hails Tinubu over his appointment as new Amnesty Administrator

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, was the Special Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony of Pounded Yam and Co, a new restaurant built by an ex-militant, Boma Jackrich, alias Egberi Papa.

Located in the upscale Jabi district of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, the eatery was opened yesterday, Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

This came as the Presidential Amnesty Programme Strategic Communication Committee (STRATCOM) applauded President Bola Tinubu for appointing Otuaro as the new Administrator of PAP.

STRATCOM in a statement on Tuesday signed by its Chairman, Pastor Nature Dumale, described the appointment as a testament of President Tinubu's capacity to select qualified and experienced individuals to work with him.

He said Otuaro, having been part of the Niger Delta struggles, understood the problems, issues and challenges facing the region especially those affecting ex-agitators.

He said the committee was confident that Otuaro would deploy his experience to address the challenges of ex-agitators and take PAP to the next level.

Dumale urged the new PAP boss to engage all stakeholders of the programme in the region to enable him quickly achieve his vision for PAP.

He implored all stakeholders including traditional rulers, youths and ex-agitators in the region to support and work with the new amnesty boss in the interest of peace and overall development of the Niger Delta.

Dumale told the amnesty boss that STRATCOM was established during the tenure of the former Interim Administrator, Col. Milland Dikio (retd), to be a clearing house for authentic information about PAP to avoid misrepresentation, half truth and falsehood.

He said: "We want to applaud President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing one of us, who has been part of the Niger Delta struggle as the new Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

"We are glad that High Chief Dennis Burutu Otuaro was found worthy by the President to occupy this momentous position at this point in our history. This singular appointment goes to emphasise the capacity of Mr. President to appoint qualified and experienced individuals to serve in his administration.

"While we congratulate Otuaro on his appointment, we urge him to engage all stakeholders in the region to enable him achieve his vision for the amnesty programme. Our committee has no doubts that the new administrator has the capacity to take PAP to the next level and contribute in sustaining the peace in the Niger Delta

"We, therefore, call on all stakeholders in the region including traditional rulers, youths and all phases of ex-agitators to support and work with the new administrator in the interest of peace and development of the Niger Delta.

"As members and leaders of STRATCOM, which was established to ensure dissemination of authentic information about PAP, we are ready to work with the new amnesty boss to help him achieve his objectives".

•PHOTO: PAP Administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, cutting the tape to open Pounded Yam and Co, a new restaurant built by an ex-militant, Boma Jackrich, alias Egberi Papa, in Jabi, Abuja on Tuesday