A prominent Ijaw leader Dr Ayakeme Wisky has alleged that appointment of Non Niger Delta indigenes as Caretaker Committee members of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) was invitation to crisis in the region.
Speaking to journalists in Yenagoa, he said the move was against the philosophy behind the granting of pardon to the ex-agitators to lay down their arms.
Further, he welcomed the removal of Professor Charles Dokubo alleging that “the man was heartless, wicked and not a professional in management of public Institution”, saying he did not even appreciated the fundamental purpose behind the establishment of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
“Removing Professor Dokubo is a most welcome development. But it is worrisome and it portends a grave danger that a care-taker committee made up of non-Ijaw indigenes is being put in place by the National Security Adviser.
“It is a very counter-productive measure. It is contrary to the philosophy and intent of the Presidential Amnesty Programme”.
Wisky, who is a former Secretary General of the South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA), wondered why such a move should be contemplated.
“Why was there amnesty in the first place? What gave cause to the amnesty? Who were the principal actors of the crisis that gave birth to the Amnesty Programme?
“It was simply Ijaw boys who decided to resort to the use of guns to decry years of neglect and oppression the Ijaw nation had suffered, despite the fact that it is the blackgold from its soil that gives Nigeria the petroleum dollar that keeps the nation afloat”.
He noted that Ijaw nation has men of integrity that can handle the Presidential Amnesty Programme for the benefit of the people, stressing that appointing people who were not part of the struggle is what made the likes of Professor Dokubo and General Paul Boroh (rtd) to fail as Special Advisers to the President on Niger Delta Affairs.
Wisky recalled that the peak of the agitation by the repentant militants led drastic reduction in oil production which crippled the economy of the country.
He warned that any further attempt to make the Ijaw to resort to arms again will be counterproductive and therefore urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call the NSA to order in order not to reopen fresh crisis in the now peaceful region.
