A former Niger Delta militant, Godsgift Ayabowei, has appealed to aggrieved ex-agitators to halt further attacks on the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu (retd.).
He also called on political parties and their candidates to shun violence in the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa State slated for November 11.
Ayabowei, a former chairman of PAP Phase 1 in the state, who spoke in Yenagoa while reacting to recent tirades by some aggrieved beneficiaries of the programme demanding the sack of Ndiomu, said, “We must learn to eschew bitterness and accommodate one another without throwing a spanner in the works of others.
“It is of utmost importance that we put aside our differences and stand in solidarity with the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu (retd.).
“We recognise the challenges and concerns that some of us may have regarding the implementation of the amnesty programme. However, we firmly believe that engaging or resorting to media attacks is not the solution to our grievances.”
Reacting to the recent statement credited to some members of the first-phase group who reportedly expressed displeasure over certain developments in the amnesty scheme, Ayabowei explained that their position was taken out of context.
He claimed that the group never met to discuss such issues and advised those involved to embrace peace and refrain from engaging in media attacks.
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