REBUTTAL: AMNESTY CURRENTLY IS A FRAUD, THIRD PHASE AMNESTY IS A BIGGER FRAUD; AMNESTY MANAGER IS THE BIGGEST FRAUD!
The Niger Delta Integrity Group is gravely concerned about a publication made in Elombanews on September 7, 2012. We are concerned because since the Presidential Amnesty Programme was introduced, we have closely monitored the activities of the Programme. In fact, we had since 2010 conducted three surveys on the activities of the PAP. Our conclusion after these several surveys showed that the Amnesty Programme under Hon. Kingsley Kuku has been the most successful programme every run in the Niger Delta.
We wrote an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan GCFR, demanding for the commencement of a THIRD WINDOW of the Amnesty Programme to accommodate those who had embraced peace. Paragraph one of our letter dated March 14th reads “We wish to thank you for the faithful implementation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, which has bought about relative peace to the Niger Delta Region. We are also grateful for appointing Hon. Kingsley Kuku – a man of impeccable integrity to be Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP. We are indeed impressed with the colossal strides taken by the office in executing its mandate of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration. From the records at our disposal, government is working on the reintegration of the 26,358 ex-militants from the first and second phases of the programme. The number of ex-combatants undergoing reintegration is very negligible given the rising population of unemployed youths in the NDR.”
We went further to add that “We disagree with Hon. Kingsley Kuku - the Amnesty Chief that the Amnesty window has closed and we do not believe that there no third phase in the Amnesty Programme. There has to be a third window to accommodate those who were left out in the earlier phases. His argument that the Niger Delta Development Commission, the Ministry of Niger Delta, State and LGAs should provide alternative means of empowerment for the unemployed youths in the Region is germane but the reality is that most youths have more confidence in the Amnesty Programme than other Agencies in the Region. Through the PAP, Niger Delta youths have inundated the training institutes in Ghana, South Africa, the Philippines, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, India and so many countries around the world. Soon, the Niger Delta will produce lots of pipeline and Under-water Welders, Pilots, Boat Builders, Seafarers, Marine Engineers and ICT gurus among others. Our main concern is how government can create room for massive industrialization to absorb both high calibre and intermediate manpower produced by the various capacity building initiatives. Youths that were hitherto de-skilled have now acquired skills and competences to enable them manipulate economic processes and add value to livelihoods”.
We are indeed delighted that Mr. President in his usual magnanimity has reconsidered our request and opened the THIRD PHASE of the Amnesty Programme. In our view, this measure is to prevent a relapse to the state of unrest that characterized the oil-rich Niger Delta before the Amnesty programme commenced. It is therefore surprising that an unknown Group in the name of the NIGER DELTA AWARENESS COALITION could come out to engage in assassinating the character and person of the Amnesty Boss and to call a programme that has benefitted so many youths as fraudulent. Worse still, those who signed the letter are people of unknown quantity and mean pedigree who have never featured in any serious discussion concerning the welfare of the youths of the Region. The adumbrations of NIGER DELTA AWARENESS COALITION are contrary to the widespread belief that Hon. Kingsley Kuku has prudently run the Amnesty Programme. A huge range of opinion leaders all across the nation are agreed that the Amnesty Programme is a resounding success. It is obvious, the NIGER DELTA AWARENESS COALITION is not aware of the monumental strides of Hon. Kingsley Kuku.
The architects of this campaign of calumny are mean and unintelligent when we considered the wretched allegation they leveled against Hon. Kingsley Kuku. The allegation that the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs doubles as the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme is a product of warped logic. The Amnesty Programme was declared for combatants in the Niger Delta, and naturally the SA TO Mr. President on the ND is the fit and proper person to combine the two jobs. Kuku is a product of the Niger Delta struggle and by this very fact; he has profound understanding of the goings-on in the Region. The Presidency also wanted to avoid role conflict and the funding of layers of inefficiency. Considering the pedigree of Hon. Kingsley Kuku, he fits the bill.
On the allegation, that Niger Delta Youths were sent to unaccredited institutions is a hard sell because the reputable Institutions with the highest standard of education in accordance with International best practices. Most of the institutions rank among the best in the world, therefore the issue of worthless certificates being issues to recipients is a blatant falsehood concocted to malign the Amnesty Boss and the bastardize the programme on the public domain. It is only in this regard that we understand why the trio of AMADI WONODI; DIEPREYE JACVKSON DIKIBO and TOMBARA LEKAN, never mentioned specifics but preferred to dwell in the domain of ambiguity. Our investigations also showed that all the three names are fictitious, used as convenient labels an exasperated force seeking to diminish the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan. The public is aware that the Amnesty Programme is one area the administration has done well.
For those who know, Hon. Kuku is a scrupulous administrator and manager of men. He pays routine visits to the various countries where Niger Delta Youths are undergoing training under the Amnesty Programme and he does so with utmost efficiency. The allegation that the Amnesty Boss use chartered flight can only be the weird imagination of the amateur pawns on the chessboard of those self-seeking politicians.
In summation, Kingsley Kuku – Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Chairman, Presidential Committee on the Amnesty Programme is a dependable ally of all progressive youths of the Niger Delta Region. He uses his office to serve humanity in line with the TRANSFORMATION AGENDA of the Federal Government. He is a self-less leader who pushes the cause of the youths in Nigeria. His pedigree speaks volumes of his passion for developing and building the capacity of youths.
We believe NOW as before, that the opening of the Third Phase of the Amnesty Program provides a safe haven for the faithful remnants of the youths who missed the earlier phases of the PAP. PAP IS THE MASTERSTROKE WE NOW DESIRE, though not a silver bullet or YOYOBITTERS that can solve all the problems of unemployment and poverty that have characterized the Region for five decades.
May we also advise that the Amnesty Boss should not be distracted by such malicious, mendacious and uninformed comments seeking to diminish his office? Those hirelings AMADI WONODI; DIEPREYE JACVKSON DIKIBO and TOMBARA LEKAN are only paid agents of those who have resolved to wage an unwinnable war against the Presidency. He should be focused as ever, on the burden of giving hope to the youths in the Region. The Youths have invested their trust in him and we are confident that he will continue to live up to the aspirations of the youths. It is our conviction that the Amnesty Programme moves from strength to strength to prove detractors wrong.
God bless our leaders.
Comrade Idumange John