Group raises alarm over alleged plot by powerful interests to take over presidential amnesty office
- There are indications that all is not well in the presidential amnesty office
- Rumours are rife that there are plans to oust the coordinator of the programme, Brigadier-General Paul Boroh (rtd)
- Boroh who also doubles as the special adviser on Niger Delta to President Muhammadu Buhari, is said to be battling powerful interests to keep his job
Controversy is brewing in the presidential amnesty office as rumours are rife that there are plans to oust the coordinator of the programme, Brigadier-General Paul Boroh (rtd).
The first sign that all is not well occurred when a a group known as Niger Delta Amnesty Vendors Forum on Tuesday, January 23, debunked nedia reports that Boroh has been sacked.
The group said the fake news was sponsored by a league of mischief makers.
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Afterwards, there were series of protests political watchers say, were aimed at destabilizing the amnesty programme.
Another group in the region called Lower Niger Delta Ex-Agitators Network, then raised the alarm of plans to force Boroh out of office.
Spokesman of the group, Godspower Oweifawari, in a statement sent to Legit.ng, said Boroh has come under pressure in the last few weeks by the minister for transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, whom he alleged is desperate to have Boroh replaced.
Part of the statement read: “The peace in the Niger Delta does not need to be violated on the altar of partisanship. Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, who is clearly rejected in the Niger Delta, and has no plans to respect the sanctity of the ballot must be warned from plunging the region and country to violence. Politics is not do-or-die.
“Anyone who cannot command popular followership should either learn the ropes or quit the stage. Strong-arm tactics and the incitement of violence has no place in modern politics. President Buhari should call his men to order."
He further alleged that the plan is to ensure that certain ex-agitators who are perceived as not being loyalists of the minister are denied their stipends as a means to incite them to renewed agitations and violence upon which the military is expected to be used to swoop in on them and neutralize them at worst.
“Already, Aliyu Kazeem, Director of Finance (DFA) of the amnesty office has received order to stop disbursement of funds to amnesty beneficiaries except as directed. As a result, currently only those being approved by Rotimi Amaechi are said to be receiving their stipends.
“To facilitate the order, the DFA of the amnesty office has moved all related files out of his office to his home and has ceased correspondences with the coordinator of the amnesty office, General Boroh, based on orders from Rotimi Amaechi,” he added.
Legit.ng inquiries to the minister's office on the issue was not responded to.
A source close to the minister who pleaded anonymity said his boss cannot plan the removoal of Boroh as he is not the minister of Niger Delta affairs.
His words: “They are all lies. Amaechi is the minister of transportation and the amnesty office is under the Ministry of Niger Delta.
“He has nothing to with the amnesty office. Please channel your inquiries to the appropriate quarters.”
Late last year, Boroh disclosed that the amnesty office has spent over N34 billion on Niger Delta youths studying abroad. He said the money was spent within the past three years.
He made the comment at the third quarterly meeting of ministers of Niger Delta affairs, petroleum resources ministry, governors of states in the Niger Delta and multi-national oil companies in the region.
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Source: Legit.ng
