N-Delta ethnic groups battle Ijaw over PAP coordinator

YOUTH leaders and stakeholders of other ethnic nationalities in Niger Delta have asked the Ijaw ethnic nationality to stop what they termed its entitlement mentality to the leadership of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, initiated by the Federal Government in 2009.

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Worldwide, had, last month, warned the Federal Government against appointing a non-Ijaw as the Coordinator of PAP.

Coordinator of Gas Pipeline Host Communities, Akwa Ibom State, Kufre Emmanson, said: “I do not think PAP is for the Ijaws only and none Niger Delta at large. We disagree that it must be Ijaw only to be appointed to pilot affairs of the Amnesty Programme.

“Other tribes in the Niger Delta have as much right to occupy that position. The Ijaw can only control its area. In Akwa Ibom, the Ibibio and Annang are not Ijaw. The PAP is a programme for youths of Niger Delta and not Ijaw youths alone.

An ex-militant leader and president of the Abuja chapter of the Urhobo Youth Council, self-styled “General” Peter Aghogho.

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said: “There are other ethnic nationalities, which are beneficiaries of PAP. The other ethnic nationality also surrendered their arms just as the Ijaw did, so it is an aberration for the Ijaw to have an entitlement mentality over the leadership of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Secretary of Ndokwa National Youth Movement, NNYM, Presley Idi, said: “We wish to state in clear terms that the office of the PAP coordinator is not in any way an exclusive right of the Ijaw ethnic nationality.

“From the inception of the programme till now, only those from the Ijaw stock have been considered to coordinate the programme and this in any way does not seem fair and equitable.”

National President, Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, Youth Wing worldwide (Ukoko Re’ Ighele Urhobo), Blessed Ughere, said: “We are equal stakeholders, we share an equal stake in the Niger Delta struggle. With careful calculation, the Urhobos have been the ones that have spent more time in the programme to make sure the programme runs smoothly but have not benefited from the programme.

Immediate past President of the Isoko National Youth Assembly, INYA, Amos Etaluku said: “Since the PAP was established, the Isoko have not had their fair share.

“The Ijaw have constantly been appointed as coordinators. I think the entire people of the Niger Delta are brothers, and l do not think it is wrong for the appointment to be given to an Isoko person.”