2026 Amnesty Scholarship: INYC blames ' Otuaro's ethnic bigotry' for exclusion of Itsekiris

The National leadership of Itsekiri National Youth Council, INYC, has blamed what it described as the ethnic bigotry of Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, for the alleged exclusion of Itsekiri youths in the 2026 Presidential Amnesty Scholarship.

Public Relations Officer of INYC, Hon. Tuoyo Ebigbeyi, in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri, Saturday August 22, called on the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to urgently address the perceived injustice, which " threatens the peace and unity of the Niger Delta."

The Itsekiri youth leadership, demanded immediate review and inclusion of Itsekiri beneficiaries in the 2026 scholarship list, insisting on a transparent and ethnic - balanced selection process, going forward.

The statement, reads inter - alia:"The Itsekiri National Youth Council [INYC] wishes to bring to the urgent attention of the National Security Adviser the growing tension and sense of injustice arising from the 2026 scholarship deployment process.

"Information available to us confirms that names have already been forwarded to private universities in Nigeria for local scholarships while pretending to be receiving applications from interested people . Shockingly, there is not a single Itsekiri name on the list.

"The INYC believes this continued exclusion is a direct result of the constant ethnic bigotry exhibited by the coordinator of the program. This pattern, if unchecked, threatens the peace and unity of the Niger Delta.

"We respectfully call on the National Security Adviser to caution the coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme Dr Dennis Otuaro to take off his ethnic bigotry garment and ensure the Itsekiri ethnic nationality is given equal opportunity in this and all future scholarship programs.

"Denial of educational opportunity to any ethnic group is a recipe for avoidable crisis. The Itsekiri people have contributed immensely to national development and deserve fair treatment.

"The INYC demands:

1. Immediate review and inclusion of Itsekiri beneficiaries in the 2026 scholarship list.

2. A transparent and ethnic-balanced selection process going forward.

3. That the NSA, as the chief security officer, uses his good office to prevent actions that can destabilize the region.

"We remain committed to peace, but we will not keep quiet in the face of injustice."

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