We’ll reciprocate your kind gesture, Niger Delta ex-agitators assure Buhari

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By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

Niger Delta ex-agitators have again reassured President Muhammadu Buhari of unflinching support and commitment to the peace-building initiatives and programmes of his administration to the region.

They reiterated that they will continue to cooperate with security agencies to sustain the prevailing peace in the Niger Delta region.

National leader of the Third Phase of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Comrade Tonye Bobo aka Sir T, in a press statement issued on Monday, said President Buhari being a strategic thinker heeded to the cries and advice of ex-agitators, leaders of thought and critical stakeholders not to wind down the amnesty programme, hence his reversal of the earlier decision.

He described the President’s decision not to shut down the programme as a wise decision coming from a true father who is sensitive to the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the Niger Delta region.

Comrade Bobo, who also is a member of the Presidential Amnesty Strategic Communication Committee noted that the decision not to shut down the programme at this time speaks volumes of the personality of Mr President and his thoughts about the people of Niger Delta and the need for rapid socio-economic development in the region.

Bobo who thanked the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Mohammed Babagana Monguno for his understanding and support to the Amnesty Programme, expressed his joy to the Interim Administrator of PAP, Maj. General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd) for taking bold steps to consult critical stakeholders, particularly the ex-agitators to seek their views before going to convince the President to reconsider his earlier decision to wind down the programme.

He recalled how Gen. Ndiomu had a critical meetings with leaders phases 1, 2 and 3 of ex-agitators among other stakeholders in the region to feel their pulse concerning the proposed winding down of the programme, pointing the proactive efforts of the Interim Administrator have no doubt yielded positive results.

According to Comrade Bobo, President Buhari’s decision not to terminate the Presidential Amnesty Programme has put to rest all the speculations that Gen. Ndiomu was ‘brought to carry out hatchet job for the APC-led administration.’

“We call on the saboteurs in the region who are bent on tarnishing the image and reputation of Gen. Ndiomu to desist from such acts. We equally warn those working against his mandate with plans to divide the Niger Delta people and create isolation in the region to have a rethink,” he appealed.