5 days ago
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ABUJA: The Niger Delta Liberators, and Ex- agitators Forum, (NDLEF) on Wednesday called on President Tinubu to direct anti-graft agencies to scrutinize the financial activities of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
The group made the call during a peaceful protest walk at the National Assembly in Abuja, stating that the move is aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in the management of the programme’s funds.
Speaking during the protest, Odey Otunu, Convener of NDLEF, said the protest became
necessary to consolidate on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed thrust for fiscal probity and governance accountability.
“While anticipating an expeditious consideration of our clients’ complaint in tandem with your avowed commitment to the discharge of your constitutional and statutory duties to restore hope to the hopeless, please accept the assurance of our professional regards.
“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consolidate on his renewed thrust for fiscal probity and governance accountability by
compelling the all relevant anti-graft agencies to beam its searchlight on the horrendous financial activities” he said.
Otunu said NDLEF had already petitioned already the Presidency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau over alleged looting of the funds meant for the development of the Niger Delta regions, adding that group is still awaiting responses from the agencies.
“Our interest is redirect the focus of all activities concerning the people of the Niger Delta towards transparency. Let us be aware of all the activities, people are there in the Niger Delta suffering as i am talking to you now, people are there, they don’t have water, they don’t have electricity, they don’t live in good homes, but people sit back here in Abuja and squander resources belonging to the people. So this government is committed to accountability as i told you earlier and we are believing it. And so we want them to be so committed to the extent of getting people fired when people are not discharging their responsibilities. These are our demands from the Niger Delta. We are Ex-agitators, we are no longer fighting but asking government to direct the functionaries to do the right thing” he added.
The PAP, established to rehabilitate and reintegrate former Niger Delta militants, has been plagued by allegations of corruption and mismanagement. The programme’s mandate includes disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of ex-agitators, as well as providing them with vocational training and education.
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