IYC Kicks Against CTC For Amnesty Office, Welcomes Probe

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has called on the Federal Government to search thoroughly for credible persons to constitute the Presidential Amnesty Office Management Committee, insisting that it was opposed to the appointment of a caretaker committee to run the amnesty programme.
The National President of the body, Mr Eric Omare, who made the call in Warri, Delta State, said that the office was created for ex-agitators so it should be returned to its owners, arguing that, “We oppose the idea of appointing a caretaker committee for the Amnesty Office as it was done for the NDDC. We do not see the reason for appointing a caretaker committee for the Amnesty Office.
“The position of the IYC is that in order to reposition the Amnesty Office, the Presidency should return the programme to its owners (beneficiaries) in order to implement its original master plan.
“The amnesty programme is not an all-comers programme but was created for only ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region with clear cut objectives.
“Therefore, the Presidency should search inward for those with a good understanding of the programme to constitute the Amnesty Office Management Committee in its reorganization efforts. We will resist efforts to continue to use the Amnesty Office as political patronage agency as it has recently become.”
The body further welcomed the intention of the Federal Government to probe the office, adding that it would bring sanity to the office.
“The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide welcomes the decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to carry out a probe into the financial activities of the Presidential Amnesty Office in order to bring probity and accountability into the programme”, he said.
However, President Muhammadu Buhari has given reason for approving the recommendation of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, that the Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo, be suspended from office immediately.
A statement signed by the President’s spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, who confirmed this development in Abuja, said that the suspension followed numerous allegations and petitions surrounding the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
He said that already, the NSA had been directed to set up a caretaker committee to look into the activities of the programme.
According to him, part of the committee’s task is to ensure that allocated resources are properly utilised in consonance with government’s objective of alleviating problems in the Niger Delta region, and stamping out corruption in the Amnesty Programme.
“The President has also directed that the caretaker committee set up to review the programme should oversee the running of the programme henceforth, with a view to ensuring that government objectives are achieved,” Adesina further disclosed.
The statement said, “Following numerous allegations and petitions surrounding the Presidential Amnesty Programme, the National Security Adviser (NSA) set up a caretaker committee to look into the activities of the programme, on the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Part of the committee’s task is to ensure that allocated resources are properly utilized in consonance with the government’s objective of alleviating problems in the Niger Delta region and stamping out corruption in the Amnesty Programme.
“Consequently, the NSA recommended to Mr President that the Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Prof Charles Quaker Dokubo be suspended, a recommendation that has been approved and which takes immediate effect.
“The President has also directed that the caretaker committee set up to review the programme should oversee the running of the programme henceforth, with a view to ensuring that government objectives are achieved.”