Go to Olu’s Palace for list of amnesty beneficiaries, INYC tells Rita Lori, others

The Itsekiri National Youths Council registered as the Itsekiri Natives Youth Council, INYC under the Chairmanship of ex-Warri South-West Council Boss, Hon. David Tonwe has challenged those doubting the list of Itsekiri amnesty beneficiaries to cross-check their fact with detailed report presented to the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli on the management of the programme.

The Itsekiri Youth Body while reacting to statements credited to some prominent personalities, especially those of Itsekiri extraction on social and conventional media regarding the management of the Post Amnesty Programme, explained that the member representing Warri Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Daniel Reyenieju during a public briefing at the Olu’s Palace as part of events to mark the 27^th coronation of the transited Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, disclosed that approximately 100 beneficiaries under the scheme are studying outside the country in various universities.

Addressing a gathering of select Journalist in Warri, Delta State, Thursday April 14, on behalf of Hon. David Tonwe, the Legal Adviser of INYC, Barr. Robinson Ariyo declared that it “is a huge misconception that the Post Amnesty Programme is an alleged money spinning business like the Pipelines and Surveillance Programme”, noting that “the Itsekiri Amnesty Programme is the only amnesty programme that passed through legislative process”.

Our Correspondents report that the INYC Legal Adviser disclosed that the Itsekiri Regional Development Committee, IRDC established by Chevron Nigeria Limited since 2005 may soon be registered as Itsekiri Development Association, IDA, even as he averred that the Itsekiris did not initially participate in the Amnesty Programme on the ground that they are not militants “but only picked up arms to protect their territorial integrity” when they were under ferocious and protracted attack from their neighbours.

Cross Section of some Amnesty beneficiaries from Itsekiri extraction

The Hon. David Tonwe led INYC while describing prominent Itsekiri Chief, Rita Lori-Ogbebor as a super woman, a person no one can ignore in the struggle for the advancement of Itsekiri in particular and the Niger Delta in general, said she was being fed with ghost stories regarding the management of Itsekiri Amnesty Programme.

According to Barr. Ariyo, deductions from the amnesty beneficiaries are used for scholarship to less privileged in Itsekiri land as well as for assisting intellectuals of Itsekiri extraction who are old in age, just as he revealed that 30 PHD and approximately 70 MSC Itsekiri students have benefited in the Amnesty Programme.

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