Amnesty: Dr. Dennis Otuaro Engages Phase 3 Generals, Calls for Collaboration to Achieve Set Goals

Amnesty: Dr. Dennis Otuaro Engages Phase 3 Generals, Calls for Collaboration to Achieve Set Goals

Francis Tayor

Warri _____ ln continuation of building peace and restructuring the Amnesty programme to achieve its ideal purpose of establishment, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Administrator Presidential Amnesty Programme, High Chief (Dr.) Dennis Burutu Otuaro has reaffirmed his commitment to reposition the programme to accommodate more critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta.

Otuaro made the statement on Monday June 24, 2024 in Warri during a stakeholders meeting with 3rd phase generals, stressing that he need the cooperation and support of the ex-agitators to succeed in his administration.

Dr Otuaro noted that his stay in office will pay special attention to impacted community's, especially victims of military bombardment, widows of falling heroes in the struggle, innocent lives that sustained various degree of injury leading to disability in our communities etc.

According to the Special Adviser, said:

" The Amnesty programme is an opportunity for ex-agitators to benefit their family, children and other critical Stakeholders.

" l want us to talk as brothers, am not a stranger in the business. Some of our comrades died in the struggle and we need to carry their families left behind along."

"Some people have been trained but no empowerment after training while others have not go for training at'all. This programme can raise funds to support our wives who are into small scale businesses in the villages.

"We all are victims of the struggle, many of our people were not captured in the time of dropping arms due to fear. I will try my possible best to incorporate those people that have not benefited from the program since 2009.

Am not doing this job to accrue more money for myself but is to see that our people in the villages should have something to benefit from the program. Am going to do better, let's reason together as brothers so that the Amnesty program would be judiciously managed for the interest of our people."

" I want us to sustain the existing peace in the Niger Delta because Mr President, His Excellency, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu is very serious about the development of our region", Otuaro asserted.

Reacting to the Special Adviser 's statement, Gen. Godday Smith popularlly known as king of the forest thanked Dr. Otuaro for the stakeholders meeting to enable them share their pains. He congratulated Otuaro for his well deserved appointment and promised that third phase generals are ready to work with him.

While Gen. Ebilo appealed to the Amnesty Administrator to increase the sixty five thousand stipend to match with the present economic reality in the country.

Others complaints of account and BVN problems as well as shortchanged of names of authentic delegates for vocational training and scholarships manipulated by staff in the Amnesty office.

Climax of the interactive session was passing of 'Vote of Confidence ' to the Special Adviser Dr. Dennis Otuaro by the ex-agitators.