…Amnesty boss, aides has siphoned billions of Naira-NDAGG
…Protest organized by failed politicians-DJF
Hundreds of youths from Bayelsa State, on Tuesday, blocked the major roads in Kolokuma-Opokuma and Yenagoa areas seeking the removal of the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd).
The protesters, who disrupted commercial activities and free-flow of traffic, insisted that Boroh had underperformed and should bow out of office.
But the kinsmen of Boroh warned the protesters to leave their brother alone, lamenting that attacks on Boroh were being coordinated and sponsored by some corrupt politicians.
The placard-carrying protesters said funds earmarked for the implementation of the programme were not being properly utilised under Boroh.
Beneficiaries of the amnesty programme, who dominated the demonstration under the auspices of the Niger Delta for Accountability and Good Governance (NDAGG), appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the amnesty coordinator.
Some of the placards bore inscriptions such as, “Buhari sack Boroh now!”, “Corruption: Boroh Must Go!” and “EFCC submit your report on Boroh”.
They intimated President Buhari that, the under-performance of Boroh was the reason behind threats by militants to begin fresh violent agitations in the Niger Delta region.
Breaking: Protesting Ex -Agitators block East/West Road
Speaking during the protest, some of the ex-militants such as Samuel Sogulu, Commander Rollins Ezetu, Commander Ebillo and Opukeme Orubo insisted that the amnesty programme under Boroh, have become an avenue for political aides and amnesty staffers to amass wealth at the expense of peace in the region.
The Secretary of NDAGG, Mr.Timi Amgalabiri said the decision to stage the protest in Opokuma junction was to move close to the venue of the Kaima declaration, that midwifed the Ijaw struggle and gave birth to the amnesty programme for the youths.
Angalabiri said: “The Amnesty office is meant to train and empower Niger Deltans. It is meant to be a means of exposing Niger Deltans to the outside world. But shockingly, the Presidential Amnesty under Boroh has been turned into avenues of corruption and intimidation of Niger Delta youths.
“We have submitted series of petitions against Paul Boroh and his aides and we called on the EFCC to investigate our facts and allegations.
“We have sent numerous petitions of fraud, stealing and incompetence to Nigerian anti-corruption agencies against the amnesty office.
“Based on this and other alleged cases against his (Boroh’s) aides, the ongoing investigation by anti-corruption agencies had indicted almost of Boroh’s aides and hundreds of millions of Naira have been found and frozen.
“We ask that President Buhari ask him (Boroh), to step aside and appoint a credible Niger Delta indigene as the new special adviser on Niger Delta Affairs and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).”
Also in his statement, a member of the NDAGG, Keisy Agama, alleged that the amnesty beneficiary slots were being sold by Boroh’s aides from N200,000 -N300,000 to unqualified persons.
Howrver, the kinsmen of Gen. Boroh under the aegis of Development and Justice Forum (DJF), condemned the protest saying they were sponsored by failed politicians with the selfish motive of hijacking the amnesty programme.
The Coordinator of DJF, Mr. Christopher Abarowei, appealed to Buhari to dismiss the protest adding that Boroh’s penchant for due process, transparency and accountability had exposed him to endless attacks.
Abarowei said: “We view as wicked, malicious and unacceptable any action that will further put PMB at a disadvantage in view.
“They are angry with Boroh for instituting many reforms that had sanitised the amnesty office and prevent leakages of funds.
“These people are no longer getting free money from the office, because Boroh insisted that all the monies must be applied strictly for the programme.
“This is the reason they are fighting our innocent brother. The Federal Government should not be deceived by their antics. Boroh is the best thing that has happened for the Amnesty programme”.
BY BADMUS SHINO
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