--- In Defence of Truth – Standing with Dr. Dennis Otuaro -
I completely dismiss with every fibre of conviction the recent poisonous video circulating on Facebook, in which one Mr. Jude Gbaboyor has dared to level the gravest of allegations against Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the distinguished Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. In that shameless piece of deceit, he throws about wild accusations of murder, ritual practices and kidnapping, as though words were leaves to be scattered recklessly in the wind. These claims are without substance, birthed in the dark corner of spite, and driven not by any honest concern, but by malice that seeks to stain the unblemished record of a man devoted to building peace in the Niger Delta.
Mr. Gbaboyor’s actions have not sprung from truth but from personal frustration, from the bitter well of a man waging a campaign of propaganda designed to chip away at the stone fortress of integrity that is Dr. Otuaro’s character. This is not the voice of justice, but of resentment, dressed in the disguise of accusation. No matter how loudly the falsehoods are shouted, lies cannot tear down the pillars of credibility upon which Dr. Otuaro stands.
The man behind these claims is no stranger to disgrace. Mr. Gbaboyor is a fugitive from justice, living abroad after committing offences that fall squarely under Nigeria’s cybercrime laws. He deliberately fled the country when law enforcement sought his presence, following credible petitions submitted to the authorities by the Amnesty Administrator. Those petitions accused him of cyberstalking, criminal intimidation, and deliberate disinformation against a public officer.
This shameful episode is not the first time he has targeted Dr. Otuaro with outlandish accusations. His repeated behaviour, like a broken drum echoing the same false rhythm, portrays a relentless desire to tarnish a name that remains untarnished in the eyes of those who know the depth of Dr. Otuaro’s service. His past dismissal from the Programme was due to unacceptable conduct and a lack of the very character that qualifies a man to serve the public. That dismissal -- well deserved and firmly grounded -- severed his connection to the PAP, and when his attempt to claw back into favour failed, he turned to blackmail, crude falsehoods and social media propaganda.
His desperation has even led him to an unpatriotic act that borders on an insult to Nigeria’s sovereignty -- by appealing to the President of the United States in what can only be described as an ill-judged and melodramatic move. To take a domestic matter, rooted firmly within Nigeria’s legal soil, and parade it before foreign leadership is as misguided as attempting to solve a village dispute by imploring a stranger from across the ocean. It is not only disrespectful, it is deeply unbecoming.
The public must not be misled. The nonsense paraded in that video holds no weight, and the very fact that Mr. Gbaboyor runs from truthful confrontation proves that his claims are nothing more than words woven from cowardice. If he has even a drop of honesty in him, let him return to Nigeria and speak his so-called truth before the proper authorities. But instead, he stays abroad, hurling insults from hiding, using distance as his false armour against lawful accountability.
Through all this noise, Dr. Dennis Otuaro remains undistracted. His vision keeps the Amnesty Programme focused on its true mission: strengthening sustainable peace in the Niger Delta, empowering ex-agitators to rebuild their lives with dignity, driving development projects, opening doors to education, and encouraging entrepreneurship that ignites hope. Just as a skilful captain keeps his vessel steady through rough waters, Dr. Otuaro steers the Programme away from the rocks of disruption, ensuring its impact reaches those who depend upon it.
The Programme thrives because of his transparency, his accountability, and his faith in the rule of law. The integrity he upholds is the very foundation upon which trust in public leadership is built. While others may shout from the shadows, Dr. Otuaro works under the sun -- visible, decisive, and determined.
These malicious attacks, however loud, are nothing more than passing clouds before the brightness of a midday sun. Dr. Dennis Otuaro’s leadership continues as a clear example of what principled service should look like. He is a worthy leader -- calm amidst storms, relentless in his pursuit of peace, and unyielding in the face of fabricated propaganda.
In the end, truth will stand as the victor, for no lie can endure against the light it fears. And in that truth, the name of Dr. Dennis Otuaro will remain untarnished -- spoken with respect and celebrated as a guiding force in the Niger Delta’s journey toward lasting peace.
EBIKABOWEI KEDIKUMO - writes from Ayakoromo Town, Delta State
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