For the new leadership of the Presidential Amnesty Programme to succeed, there is an urgent need for the agency’s budget to be increased, a former freedom fighter in the region, Pastor Reuben Wilson, has said.

Wilson said on Thursday in a statement that it would be difficult for PAP under Dr Dennis Otuaro to succeed if adequate funds were not provided by the federal government.

The south-south coordinator of The Asiwaju Group, while thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Otuaro lamented that since 2009 when the PAP was established, it has operated under the same budget for welfare and training of beneficiaries.

According to him, “this appeal is premised on the fact that the annual budget of the Presidential Amnesty Programme with respect to the training and welfare of the beneficiaries has remained the same from the beginning of the programme in 2009 to date, irrespective of the current high cost of living and training of the beneficiaries.

“The upward review of the annual budget of the Presidential Amnesty Programme is long overdue and it’s greatly hindering the proper and effective execution of the objectives of the programme. There’s therefore an urgent need for an upward review of the budget, especially now that we have a sincere, competent and critical stakeholder as the Administrator of the programme.

He noted that he was ”highly elated that it’s Chief (Dr.) Dennis Brutu Otuaro that is in charge of the programme now. I know that he has the capacity to unite all the beneficiaries and critical stakeholders of the programme,owing to his level of competent leadership and experience in the Niger Delta struggle.

“I’m therefore, appealing that Mr President should upwardly review the annual budget of the programme and bring it up to speed with the current realities to enable the new Administrator effectively reposition the programme for better results.”

He explained that, "Chief (Dr) Dennis Otuaro has been part of the struggle for the survival of the Niger Delta people from the beginning and therefore, knows what to do to revitalize and reposition the Presidential Amnesty Programme, if given the right financial resources. He is adequately prepared and has the requisite experience and knowledge to successfully pilot the affairs of the Presidential Amnesty office to greater heights.”

The ex-agitator expressed the believe that the amnesty boss “shall successfully redeem and redirect the office to achieve its primary and fundamental objectives. He played a crucial role in the activities that led to the establishment of the programme and therefore,wouldn’t allow the programme to continue its derailment and bastardization under his watch.

“There’s therefore, an urgent need for the Programme’s annual budget to be reviewed upward, to enable him execute his mandate efficiently and effectively. Making available adequate funding for the programme is a necessary support that will certainly empower the new Administrator to better discharge his responsibilities.”

He further thanked the President for “appointing Chief (Dr.) Dennis Brutu Otuaro as Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

“Mr President has once more, eloquently demonstrated his knack for identifying and appointing talented and competent people to drive his vision for the betterment of the country.”