Some young ex-militants of the Presidential Amnesty Program (PAP) staged a protest march on Tuesday in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa state, for the exclusion of 2,952 beneficiaries and the refusal of the Amnesty Office to pay them the monthly N65 stipends . 000 monthly.
According to the ex-militant protesting under the Phase Two beneficiaries, the Amnesty Office’s refusal to return the 2,952 affected beneficiaries to the payroll and immediately pay them their stipend will lead to the occupation of the office in Abuja and the tactical disruption of presidential campaigns. of political parties within the nine states of the Niger Delta region.
The aggrieved ex-militant who organized a procession to the Nigerian Journalists Union secretariat in Yenagoa and led by its national president, Aso Tambo, gave the Amnesty office a week-long ultimatum to begin immediate payment of those delisted . from the program’s payroll.
According to Aso Tambo, despite the achievements recorded by the acting administrator, Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (retired) in the area of service chief security engagement and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in the employment area for beneficiaries, the refusal to pay the 2,952 beneficiaries will cause tension and destroy the fragile peace that exists in the region
According to Tambo: “We have all met and adopted our strategy in the face of the refusal of the Amnesty Office to pay 2,952 beneficiaries. We want those affected to be paid within a week or we will mobilize and strategically occupy the Amnesty Presidential Office. If it is still not paid, we will not allow the peaceful conduct of presidential campaigns in the nine states of the Niger Delta region.”
He added: “If they feel that we are barking dogs that cannot bite, they should challenge us and see the consequence. They must consider the monthly stipend important and know that such payment will lead to an unimaginable crisis if it is not paid immediately.”
The aggrieved youths also called on the Amnesty Presidential Office to engage stakeholders and beneficiaries before selecting those who will benefit from the ongoing scholarship program to educate 20 people in higher education institutions.
Former militants threaten political campaigns in Niger Delta over amnesty stipends
