The Mayor of Urhoboland and notable ex-militant leader, Eshanakpe Israel a.k.a Akpodoro has accused the Interim Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Barry Ndiomu, of playing ethnic agenda in his running of the programme meant for the entire Niger Delta region.
According to the Mayor who made this known in his New Year message to the people of Niger Delta in particular and Nigeria in general in his Ughelli, Delta State country home over the weekend, Ndiomu does not see the region beyond his Ijaw kinsmen.
He alleged that the amnesty office has entirely become a cash-cow for only his people who he said the Interim Administrator patronises at the detriment of other tribes particularly the Urhobo and Isoko Ex Agitators.
He bemoaned what he described as the high handedness of the amnesty boss who he noted is in the office to satisfy the interest of his kits and kins alone shutting other nationalities out of the benefits of the programme.
Akpodoro cited a particular cooperative society that was created for the benefit of all but ended being compromised for his tribesmen alone leaving others out with huge sum being paid to the society to allegedly drive home his ethnic agenda.
He called on the National Security Adviser to the President, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to whip the Amnesty boss into line lest he plunges the region into crisis.
He stated that the presidency who is Ndiomu’s appointing authority should avoid the pitfall of lethargy and lackadaisical attitude in the looming face-off between the Urhobo/Isoko phase 2 Ex Agitators and the Interim Administrator.
Specifically, the Mayor said his warning is coming at the heels of a strong worded petition and a 2-week ultimatum issued President Bola Ahmed Tinubu few days ago lamenting the ordeal of the Phase 2 Ex Agitators in the hands of Ndiomu over a N320m sum allegedly paid into the account of a handful of Ex Agitators from Bayelsa State.
The N320m, according to the petition, supposedly was for all phase 2 Ex Agitators but surprisingly, the Edo and Delta leaders of Ex Agitators alleged in their petition to the President that the money ended up in the hands of few persons from Ndiomu’s place for reason of primordial interest.
The duo of Solomon Adu and London Gbuke, Delta and Edo State leaders of phase 2 Amnesty had threatened in the petition to bomb the Otorogun gas if the FG refuses to act on the alleged lopsided patronage of ex-agitators by Ndiomu.
“However as a leader and most especially, the Mayor of Urhoboland, I have the duty to calm frail nerves while I call on the President to step up action and warn Ndiomu not to ignite crisis in our region.
“The current peace in the Niger Delta region today is borne out of the efforts made by patriotic leaders like me. Ndiomu was not there when I pivoted the peace efforts that all of us are enjoying today in the region. He should stop his sectional manipulations, and allow the benefits of the Amnesty go around the people equitably, devoid of ethnic colouration.
“The President is the father of the nation, and he owes it a duty of service to caution Ndiomu and cause him to retrieve the money meant for all Phase 2 ex-agitators and not for his people alone.
“He came into that office to marginslise and subjugate the Urhobo nation, and now he should be told that enough is enough. Urhoboland is not Ndiomu’s conquered territory. He should stop stoking ethnic hatred among the peace loving people of our region.
“He has done enough damage to our collective sensibilities, and now is when to call him to order,” Akpodoro stated as he called on Urhobo youths to remain peaceful and patriotic to the course of nation building, emphasising the need to support the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.
