A group of Niger Delta Leaders have responded to what they described as a bunch of fiction being circulated in the media about alleged infractions committed at the Niger Delta Amnesty office.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari in February approved the suspension of the coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Professor Charles Quaker Dokubo and directed that the caretaker committee set up to review the programme should oversee the running of the programme henceforth with a view to ensuring that government’s objectives were achieved.
In a press statement signed by the convener Dr. Ebiowei ThankGod and circulated to journalists in Yenagoa, the group known as Coalition for Niger Delta Cohesion (CNDC), challenged anyone with any evidence of fraud against the National Security Adviser, General Mohammed Babagana Monguno and the suspended Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Prof Charles Dokubo to come forward or keep quiet.
“Our attention has been drawn to the activities of faceless groups that are attempting to blackmail and disparage the National Security Adviser, General Mohammed Babagana Monguno and Prof Charles Dokubo on cases of imaginary fraud in the office of the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Program.
“For many months, these groups who lack the courage to come up in the open but who have continuously masked their identities have used the media to circulate alleged infractions committed in their putrid imagination at the office.
“The so called 1.8 billion naira contract allegedly awarded to the National Security Adviser is obviously a clear concoction and wicked lie from the pit of hell.
“Those who know the NSA know that he is a man of integrity whose reputation is impervious to cheap propaganda. In another fiction, they have tried many times to drag the name of the coordinator to what they allege as looting in Kaiama. The incident in Kaiama have long been investigated by the police and the report is available in the public domain,” the group noted.
According to the group, both the coordinator and the National Security Adviser have maintained a studied silence because they are aware that vigilant Nigerians especially stakeholders in the Niger Delta are discerning people who can see through the antics of mischief makers and their sponsors.
The CNDC said many US groups have continued to commend how the tenure of Prof Dokubo has led to sustained peace and stability in the Niger Delta region which had impacted positively in Nigeria’s domestic economy.
The group cautioned those who are interested in occupying public offices to try to pursue their aspirations without spreading mud unnecessarily on innocent people.
