Itsekiri Ex - Agitators accuse Otuaro of neglecting Itsekiri Nation in Presidential Amnesty Programme

Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality Ex - Agitators' Joint Action Committee, have accused Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Dennis Otuaro of deliberate marginalisation of their members captured in the third phase of the programme.                               

The accusation, was contained in a petition dated April 9 and addressed to the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The petition, which was e - signed by the Leader/ Chairman and Leader/ Secretary of Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality Ex - Agitators' Joint Action Committee, Comrade Mene Dennis and Comrade Bibi Gbemi, respectively, noted inter - alia: "We are Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality Ex-agitators captured in the third phase of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in 2013 after we voluntarily submitted our arms in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State; as part of the Disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration by the then Federal Government for peace in the region and as a result the Itsekiri Nation is a critical stakeholders in the programme; and so therefore, it deserved all the benefits as their counterparts in the Niger Delta, and we use this opportunity to clear the misconception that the 500 Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality Ex-agitators were brought in as impacted.

  "We accepted the meagre number, because it was agreed that we will all be trained abroad, of which some have been deployed to foreign Universities.

"We hereby respectfully submit this formal Petition requesting you to use your good office to address the Deliberate neglect and Marginalization of the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality Ex-agitators in the programme before it get out of hand.

"This petition is presented in the interest of fairness, equity, and justice, as we all holds ourselves the responsibility to ensure peace and development in the Niger delta region.

"2. OUR GROUNDS FOR THIS PETITION 

"The grounds of this petition are stated below;

 i. The Presidential Amnesty Programme Administrator intentional neglect of Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality Ex-agitators, as Itsekiri with UNcode who applied via the designated Portal announced by the office, were not deployed in the 2024/2025 session, and new students not originally captured were deployed without regard for the Itsekiri Nation.

ii. Persistent and deliberate failure to respond to all correspondence we have sent to the office to address our concerns and neglect.

"iii. The Administrator's Marginalization of the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality in the Allocation of 1700 Students in the 2024/2025 Session to Various Institutions without Regard to the Itsekiri Nation.

"iv. The deliberate exclusion and marginalization of the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality from key considerations within the office is concerning, as Itsekiri individuals with UN codes and impacted communities, including students who graduated from Novena University, have yet to be mobilized for National Youth Service (INYC) due to non-payment of school fees by the office.

"v. The failure to deploy Itsekiri ex-agitators, or other Itsekiri, similar to their counterparts in the Niger Delta, to various vocational training programs since taking office is alarming. It is worth noting that, of the meager 500 approved for Itsekiri, less than 200 have been deployed for education and vocational training by previous administrations since 2013.

"vi. The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme exhibits a total disregard for the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality by failing to engage with either the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality or the Ex-agitators leaders since assuming office.

3. PRAYERS

"We hereby respectfully want to appeal to you, to use your good office to address these issues of deliberate neglect, Marginalization and sidelining of Itsekiri Nation in the scheme of things in the office, and to;

" a. Ensure that Itsekiri Ex-agitators with Uncodes are given priority consideration and deployment for vocational training and education programs in the next and subsequent deployments.

"b.Ensure that the Itsekiri nation is considered and included in the scholarships scheme in the next and subsequent deployments.

"c.Ensure that Itsekiri individuals are considered for employment or appointment in the office to handle Itsekiri matters.

"d. Ensure that Itsekiri students deployed to Novena University by the previous administration, the majority of whom have graduated but are unable to collect their results due to non-payment of their school fees to date by the office, are cleared to proceed for their National Youth Service Corp (NYSC).

"We also trust that you act swiftly to address this matter raised above, as our people are agitated already. As the saying goes, it is better to prevent an insurrection than to control it. We have taken this Petition to you as our OPTION A2, after the OPTION A1 failed with several letters to the office with no response. We cannot guarantee peace in our region with our next line of OPTION A3 and OPTION A4, if this deliberate act of neglect and marginalization is allowed to continue unabated. A stitch in time saves nine."

×