- Says It’s Turn Of Delta To Produce Coordinator
From Joseph Obukata (The New Diplomat’s N’Delta Correspondent)
A group, Egbema Peace and Security Group, (EPSG), has insisted that it is the turn of Delta State to produce the next Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), stating that the appointment of Col. Milland Dixion Dikio (rtd) as the interim administrator of the programme was unacceptable.
President Muhammadu Buhari had named Dikio as new interim administrator of the programme, Thursday, with his appointment back-dated to take effect from August 21, 2020 when he approved the sack of erstwhile coordinator of the programme, Prof Charles Dokubo.
It would be recalled that Buhari had in February suspended Prof. Dokubo following various allegation of fraud and petitions against him as coordinator of the presidential amnesty programme.
Following the suspension of Dokubo who hails from River state, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, had set up a technical committee to oversee the activities of the programme.
The Presidency had in that statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, further stated that the NSA has set up a caretaker committee to look into the activities of the programme on the directive of President Buhari.
But in another statement released on Thursday, August 27, 2020, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the President has approved the disengagement of Prof. Charles Quarker Dokubo from Office as the Coordinator of the programme with immediate effect.
“Prof. Dokubo has been directed to hand over all official matters to the most senior officer of the Programme”, the statement reads.
But reacting to the development, EPSG while noting that they were not against the President removal of Dokubo, it said that the fact that he is also from Rivers State makes the new appointment of Dikio, also from Rivers unjustifiable.
EPSG, in a statement by its coordinator on Saturday, Chief Ebipade Kari, stated that it is time for a Deltan to coordinate the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
Kari also stated that since the presidential Amnesty Programme which was approved by Late President Musa Yar’Adua commenced on Thursday, July 11, 2009, no Delta State indigene has been appointed to head the office.
“This is the second time the President is appointing a leader from Rivers State, as well as Bayelsa, whereas, none from Delta State has been appointed.
“Major General Godwin Abbe from Benin City, Edo state was the first to lead the programme from 2009 to 2010, followed by Timi Alaibe, an indigene of Bayelsa State after abbe left office in 2010.
“Kingsley Kuku a Nigerian political and environmental rights activist, from Arogbo, Ondo State in January 2011 was appointed Special Adviser to the President on the Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme. His tenure ended in 2015.
“Brig Gen P.T. Boroh (Rtd) from Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State took over the mantle of leadership of the Programme in July 2015 until March 2018. Prof Dokubo was appointed on March 13, 2018, until yesterday.
“Instead of appointing someone from Delta State, President Buhari went back to River State to appoint Milland Dikio.
“We are not okay with the appointment, as it is supposed to be our turn since the appointment of the leadership of the programme is rotational.
“We as a peace-loving citizen of the country request that President Buhari should look into the development and in his good office, appoint a Deltan to be at the helm of affairs of the office.
“We will continue to support the progress made thus far by the President Buhari led administration to ensure peace and harmony remains in the Niger Delta region of the country, protect the nation’s economy based,” the group said.
