Itsekiri amnesty beneficiaries protest alleged marginalization

The Itsekiri Amnesty Beneficiaries in Delta State have protested against alleged “victimization in the Amnesty programme by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Program, Hon. Kingsley Kuku”, saying over 100 Itsekiris given admission to study in the United Kingdom for Masters and PHD for September 2014 have not been sponsored.

The protesters who marched to the Constituency Office of the member representing Warri Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Daniel Reyenieju and the Palace of the Olu of Warri with their petition as well as placards with various inscriptions, stated that apart from the non release of fund for 100 Itsekiris billed to embark on their post graduate programme abroad, the Presidential Amnesty Office is also yet to make fund available for 300 Itsekiris set for skilled and vocational training despite the alleged approval of money for the programme since May 20, 2014 by the National Assembly.

According to the protesters, “anytime the Itsekiri Amnesty beneficiaries are to travel abroad for various programs under the post Amnesty Plan, the unavailability of funds will prop up while funds are always available for other ethnic groups/nationalities anytime their persons/beneficiaries are to travel abroad for different programmes”.

The protesters who carried placards with inscriptions such as “send us for our training Kingsley Kuku”, “stop victimization of Itsekiri beneficiaries”, “vocational training is our right”, and “Kuku release our funds”, claimed that out of the 500 Amnesty slots allotted to Itsekiri instead of the 5,000 originally approved, they “ have not been able to benefit anything tangible”.

Cross Section of the Amnesty beneficiaries protesting at the Palace gate of the Olu of Warri

In an open letter addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly, the Amnesty Beneficiaries declared that 73 of them are yet to receive their monthly stipends of N 65, 000.000 from January 2013 to December 2013 for reasons not known.

The letter which was signed on behalf of the beneficiaries by Peter Tidi, appealed to the President and members of the National Assembly to wade into the issue, “in order for Itsekiri Youths not to lose their opportunity”.

The member representing Warri Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Daniel Reyenieju assured the protesters that their grievances will be addressed.

Hon. Reyenieju who was represented by his Senior Legislative Aide, Hon. Oritsetimeyin Orugboh told the Itsekiri Amnesty Beneficiaries that Hon. Kingsley Kuku has promised to addressed the perceived marginalization. 

×