Leaders and coordinators of the Phase One Ex-agitators have expressed strong disapproval over ongoing claims linking Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), to a supposed leaked document about former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The leaders gathered in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over the weekend and issued a warning against what they called false blackmail and unjustified attacks on Dr. Otuaro by individuals in the Niger Delta.
According to ‘The Nation’, the ex-agitators released a statement after their meeting, condemning a video shared on social media by one Jude Gbaboyor. In the video, Gbaboyor accused Dr. Otuaro of leaking a confidential document from the Department of State Services (DSS) involving former President Jonathan.
The statement, signed by HRH Henry Binidodogha, Chairman of the First Phase and King of Ofunama (known as General Egbeme 1), rejected Gbaboyor’s claims and the negative comments made about High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, who is a notable Niger Delta leader and head of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.
The ex-agitators urged unity and vigilance in defending the reputation of leaders working for peace and development in the region. The statement said, “It is our collective conviction that Jude Gbaboyor’s allegations, including the one bordering on leaked DSS document and his attacks on Dr Dennis Otuaro in the social media and some section of the mainstream media were unfounded, untenable and unwarranted.
“We also believe strongly that Dr Dennis Otuaro did not know anything about the published document. The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme does not work with the DSS. He, therefore, cannot be accused by Jude Gbaboyor of causing the purported document to be published.”
They stressed that the PAP office is not connected to the DSS and Dr. Otuaro did not have access to sensitive security documents. They noted that the DSS is highly capable of thorough investigations and does not need external help for such tasks.
The ex-agitators added, “We, therefore, believe that Jude Gbaboyor’s outing smacks of a deliberate move to blackmail the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, and distract him from performing his duties. We urge Jude Gbaboyor and other detractors to let Dr Dennis Otuaro be.”
They highlighted Dr. Otuaro’s achievements over the past eight months, mentioning that he has successfully aligned the Programme with the needs of the Niger Delta and stakeholders to promote peace, security, and development.
The statement continued, “As a matter of fact, various critical stakeholders have commended Dr Dennis Otuaro for the noble reforms that his leadership had engendered at the Presidential Amnesty Programme to make the Programme more beneficial to all delegates and beneficiaries and our region.”
The leaders reaffirmed their strong support for Dr. Otuaro, stating that he deeply understands the PAP’s mission and the Niger Delta’s needs as someone directly involved in the struggle.
They said, “We also applaud the Office of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; and His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their unwavering support for Dr Dennis Otuaro and the Presidential Amnesty Programme. We urge them to continue to give the necessary support to Dr Dennis Otuaro to enable him to achieve the Programme’s objectives.”
They advised Jude Gbaboyor and others to stop actions that harm peace and development in the region. “We all owe it a duty to work together and support the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, to succeed for the sake of our region,” they added.
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