Group to Buhari; Appoint Niger Delta Peace Advocates to Coordinate Amnesty Programme
By Ezekiel Kagbala FPR
Former agitators, The Niger Delta Freedom fighters, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to consult among civil society groups to appoint a peace advocate from the region to coordinate the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
The leader of the group, self-styled General Agbobulaga Ebube made the call in Warri on Friday during a media chat with FocalPoint Reports.
Agbobulaga noted that civil society leaders from the region will be more selfless, attentive and accessible to the need of the people.
He also urged Niger Delta people who are interested in the position to form a cooperative synergy with each other adding that it will be more disadvantageous if the program is not coordinated by someone close to the grassroots.
He said, "The Amnesty program is a product of peace advocacy which led to the disarmament of formerly armed youths who made the purpose of their agitations a call for the region's Socio-economic development".
He also reiterated that civil society groups played a major role by creating awareness and educative programmes which created the idea that led to the amnesty programme.
Agbobulaga also noted that political office holders will mismanage the office and abuse the program if political means and money are used to lobby for the appointment.
He further maintained that the presidency should make it clear that the amnesty coordinator's office is not for political compensation.
He further stated that there are Civil society leaders from the Niger Delta who selflessly devoted themselves to peace advocacy and the call for peaceful coexistence. They should be appointed because they can reconfigure the amnesty programme to achieve its foundational objectives.
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