By Francis Sadhere, Warri
A Niger Delta group under the aegis of Niger Delta Integrity Watch (NDIW) has told President Muhammadu Buhari not to end the Amnesty Programme of the Federal Government.
In a statement by Apostle Clement Tonfawei and Emmanuel Juweya, Chairman and Secretary of the group respectively, it said the termination of the federal government’s amnesty programme at this time that the Niger Delta region has began to enjoy the proceeds of the oil being exploited from their backyard over fifty years ago, will have negative effects on the people.
“As the mouth piece of the Niger Delta people, The Niger Delta Integrity group also want to state categorically clear that we are not in support of the alleged moves by the Federal Government to end the Amnesty Programme in 2018. The Amnesty Programme is the only thing that the people of the Niger Delta region have gained from the federal government since the discovery of oil in the region. The people of the Niger Delta region have suffered untold hardship through the devastation of the environment occasioned by oil exploration and exploitation in the region.
“Ending the Amnesty Programme at this time when the people of the region have started enjoying the benefits of oil that has been taken from their land would be counter productive. We have watched with keen interest the body Language of our people since the news of the termination of the Amnesty Programme filtered into town.
“We, therefore want to use this medium to call on President Muhammadu Buhari not to end the Amnesty Programme. The people of the region have been taken for granted for too long and this time around we would not allow them take away our only gains, which is the Amnesty Programme,” the group said.
The group also applauded the Presidency for appointing one of their sons, Major Hassan Mowarin (rtd) as the Head, Education/Logistics and Development, Presidential Amnesty office, saying the appointment of Major Mowarin was a welcome development.
“We the Niger Delta Integrity Watch group want to use this medium to applaud President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing our son, Major Hassan Kesiena Mowarin as Head, Education/Logistics, Presidential Amnesty Programme of the Federal Government. Major Mowarin is a fine gentleman who has brought sanity to the education department of the Presidential Amnesty Programme since his appointment into the office.
“We want to commend President Muhammadu Buhari for his insight in the appointment of Major Mowarin who has since his appointment discovered over 500 fake amnesty beneficiaries in the Education department of the Amnesty programme. For this and many others, we want to assure President Buhari that we are fully behind him and we are ready to support him in ensuring that he brings sanity to the Amnesty Programme,” the group said.
” We also want to condemn those who are fighting against Major Mowarin because we believe that they are out to destroy the Niger Delta people. Major Mowarin has been using the Amnesty Programme to help his people and want to say that those who are fighting against him do not have the welfare of the Niger Delta region at heart and we want to use this medium to declare such people as enemies of the Niger Delta region.
” We also want to thank Mr. Agama Ineifiye Keisy who has been very instrumental to the investigation into the alleged malpractices in the Amnesty office. We want to urge him to continue the good work he is doing.
