Following the recent arrest and detention of Owuopele Owous—who is accused of persistently harassing top government officials for personal gain and inciting unrest in the Niger Delta—the head of the Association of Urhobo Mayoral Family Crown (AUMFC), Eshanekpe Israel, popularly known as Mayor Akpodoro, has come out in strong defense of Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
Akpodoro affirmed that Dr. Otuaro remains the most competent individual to lead the Amnesty Programme, asserting that no amount of blackmail or misinformation can derail the Administrator’s progress and commitment to improving the lives of people in the region.
He accused certain detractors—many of whom are neither ex-militant leaders nor legitimate stakeholders—of stirring public unrest and spreading falsehoods to undermine Dr. Otuaro’s leadership. Akpodoro praised security agencies for their intervention in investigating those involved in cyberbullying and coordinated attacks on the Administrator.
“Since the inception of the programme, it has never been better managed,” Akpodoro said. “The attacks against Dr. Otuaro are fueled by individuals who are disgruntled because the era of corruption and profiteering is over.”
According to Akpodoro, the blackmailers are fronting for powerful sponsors who previously benefited from the systemic exploitation of the Amnesty Programme. Now that transparency and accountability have become the standard under Dr. Otuaro’s leadership, these corrupt interests are fighting back.
He emphasized that even the authorities who appointed Dr. Otuaro can attest to his competence, integrity, and commitment to the welfare of the Niger Delta. However, some individuals, he noted, remain determined to undermine the programme due to their past complicity in corrupt practices.
Akpodoro warned those he described as “idle youths and agents of mischief” to desist from being used as tools for blackmail, adding that Dr. Otuaro’s silence should not be mistaken for weakness, but rather for restraint, discipline, and strength of character.
In just two years, he stated, Dr. Otuaro has outperformed his predecessors by introducing impactful reforms that have transformed the programme and brought tangible benefits to its participants.
He called on security agencies to intensify efforts to root out those who perpetuate unrest, stressing that peace and development in the region must not be compromised.
“Under Dr. Otuaro, the programme has been repositioned for growth and positive transformation. Scholarships are now awarded fairly, without lobbying or exploitation. Fake contracts and fraudulent payments have been eliminated, and genuine stakeholders are now being recognized,” he said.
“Today, beneficiaries receive their due without being shortchanged. The programme’s funds are being utilized transparently and effectively for the collective good, not siphoned into private pockets. This is the reason blackmailers are targeting the visionary leadership of Dr. Otuaro.”
Akpodoro concluded with a call for firm action: “Those who incite crisis in the region must be investigated, arrested, and prosecuted. This culture of blackmail and extortion must end. Individuals like Owous should face the full wrath of the law if found guilty. Until there are real consequences, this trend will continue.”
He urged the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to take decisive steps to end what he described as a “regime of impunity” in the region.
