A Civil Society Organisation, Niger Delta Integrity Group, has kicked against calls in some quarters for the removal of the Interim Administrator, Amnesty Programme, Major General Barry Ndiomu (retd).
In the last three months, no fewer than four groups had demanded the removal of the Amnesty administrator who was appointed in September 2022.
On Wednesday, some ex-agitators accused him of delisting names of real beneficiaries of the programme and refusing to pay the stipend of over 7,000 delegates going over six months without an explanation.
However, a statement on Saturday by the Convener, NDIG, Boma Horsfall, claimed that those calling for Ndiomu’s sack were beneficiaries of past corrupt practices in the programme.
He added that Ndiomu’s resolve to sanitise the system was responsible for the repeated calls for his removal.
The statement partly read, “The fact of the matter is that according to the rule of the Amnesty Programme, after the beneficiaries are absolved, trained, and empowered, they are to exit and pave way for others. Sadly, many refused to do that until he came and sent them packing.
“Also, another issue why they want him out is the issue of irregularities surrounding multiple accounts tied to a single BVN which is being investigated by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
“We also want to use this opportunity to urge the NSA to ensure the speedy conclusion of their investigation and those found culpable should be made to face the law. This is one of the ways the malicious attempt to blackmail the Interim Administrator would be put to rest.
“We enjoin the Interim Administrator not to be deterred in his resolve to reposition the Amnesty Programme.”
The PUNCH reports that the Presidential Amnesty Programme was initiated by the late president Umaru Yar’Adua in 2009 to address the unrest in the oil-rich region.
The programme, has, however, been sustained by successive administrations
