IJAW GROUP INSISTS OTUARO QUALIFIED, COMPETENT TO HEAD AMNESTY OFFICE
OGHENETEJIRI NYERHOVWO
Chief Dennis Otuaro, prominent Niger Delta activist is qualified as well as competent to head the Presidential Amnesty Programme Office just as sponsor of unfounded allegations against him have been berated.
According a statement by Ijaw People’s Development Initiative (IPDI) signed by Mayor Timi Ogobiri, Acting Spokesman of the Ijaw group made available online to National Reformer, Chief Otuaro played prominent role in dousing the Niger Delta crisis positing that he is qualified and competent to lead the amnesty office.
While warning all those behind the unnecessary name calling over the Presidential Amnesty Office to desist forthwith, the group said that if President Muhammadu Buhari picks him as the right man for the job, no one could stop him.
The group also warned that it is improper for anyone to play politics with the relative peace now in place in the region.
On the spurious allegation that Chief Otuaro, a Gbaramatu chief is a Personal Assistant to Chief Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo. former Niger Delta militant leader is figment of the imagination of the authors adding that the allegation of using the said reported appointment to compensate Tompolo is unfounded.
The group added that those behind the allegations in the media were only out to block the chances of Chief Otuaro who has been reportedly picked as the next Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
The statement of the group reads in part, ” for record purpose, we make bold to say that High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka, Tompolo is not looking for any compensation from any quarter, as the group also failed to mention the grounds on which Tompolo is seeking to be compensated. We frowned at the report as it lacks iota of truth as it is meant to fan ember of discord among politicians in Ijaw nation and other stakeholders in the Niger Delta region. Chief Dennis Otuaro was never at any point a Personal Assistant to Tompolo.”
The group added, “Chief Otuaro is a critical stakeholder in the Niger Delta struggle and nobody is better qualified and competent to lead the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) than him at the moment. He’s both intellectually and educationally qualified to occupy the office.”
The Ijaw group however disclosed that is true Chief Otuaro was formerly a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but has since decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and has been doing his best to make the party popular among Ijaw people in Delta State.
The statement further added, “we want to state as well that we should not play politics with critical issues in Niger Delta region as such will not serve the best interest of the region. It is untrue to say that the anticipated appointment of Chief Dennis Otuaro is compensation to former Niger Delta freedom fighter, High Chief Government Ekpomupolo. Rather, it’s the level of Chief Otuaro’s commitment to Niger Delta question that earns him this opportunity.”
IPDI noted, “we are equally aware that Chief Dennis Otuaro has given his heart and devoted his time to serve the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration and there is nothing wrong with him being appointed as Presidential Amnesty Programme Coordinator.”
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