Coalition of ex-militant leaders from the Niger Delta region are at loggerhead with the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd.) over the alleged uncomplimentary remarks against the founding fathers of the programme and the illegal use of the limited budgeted funds of PAP.
According to the Coalition of Ex-Militants through former ex-militant leader, General Boma Inewariku (AKA Atangba-One), the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd.) allegedly made derogatory remarks against a former militant leader and member of the Federal House of Representative, Hon. Farah Dagogo at a meeting held in Port Harcourt, Rivers state to deliberate on the way forward for the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
The Ex-militant leaders, while also commiserating with the people of the region impacted by the devastating flood, argued that they will not support the allege plan by the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd) to use the limited Amnesty funds for the purchase and distribution of relief materials, stating that “it’s a recipe for fraud and looting.”
Former ex-militant leader, General Boma Inewariku (AKA Atangba-One), in a statement issued on behalf of the coalition of ex-militant leaders, warned that General Ndiomu should focus on his job of training and empowering our Amnesty beneficiaries instead of trying to hijack the jobs of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA).
“He has enough on his plate already, so why is he looking to do the job of the NDDC and NEMA for which he has no budget? General Ndiomu came in and he was shouting about closing the Amnesty programme, a programme that directly and indirectly benefits over a million families across the region. He has surrounded himself with sycophantic people that advised previous administrators of the Amnesty programme that failed woefully.”
“How can General Ndiomu come to Port Harcourt to speak with stakeholders, only to threaten and insult a founding father of the Amnesty programme who fought diligently for our people and almost lost his life. Hon. Farah Dagogo is a respected member of the Federal House of Representatives, for which he is regarded as our beloved Son.”
“Let me ask General Ndiomu that without the struggles of Hon. Farah Dagogo and other founding fathers of the amnesty programme that sued for peace with the federal government through the Amnesty programme, would there be any Amnesty office for General Ndiomu to serve as an Administrator? Let me tell you, the ex-militants including the youths and elders across the region respect our Ex-militant leaders more than any General in any military. The Amnesty office was created by ex-militant leaders, so General Ndiomu must respect our leaders.”
Inewariku stated that, “ex-militant leaders and beneficiaries of the Amnesty programme are wondering whether the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Mohammed Babagana Monguno (rtd.) is still the supervising officer of the Amnesty programme, and when the instability that has engulfed the Amnesty programme will stop because General Ndiomu does not understand the job, and acts based on whatever gossip he receives from the sycophantic advisers that he has surrounded himself with.”
Inewariku said, General Ndiomu spoke to stakeholders and said, “my loyalty is not to the NSA because the NSA did not recommend me for this job.”
The former ex-militant leader, General Boma Inewariku advised Ndiomu to retrace his steps to focus on the payment of beneficiaries stipends, training and empowerment of ex-militants and beneficiaries in the impacted communities. He stated that the Amnesty programme is a “Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) meant for the 30,000 ex-militants and those impacted under the impacted communities system, and that if Ndiomu wants to embark on any corporate social responsibility, then let him seek presidential approval and funding for that, because it is outside his scope of authority.
“General Ndiomu’s time is short, his tenure expires on the 1st of March 2023, in about five months, he should use his short time wisely to make impact and have friends in the Niger Delta, otherwise he will live to regret it, because many administrators like him have come and gone.”