March 11, (THEWILL) – Niger Delta ex-agitators have lauded the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Program (PAP), Major-General Tariye Ndiomu (rtd), for fulfiling his promise of establishing a cooperative society for the ex-agitators to enhance their livelihood instead of relying on the monthly stipends of N65,000.
Elaye Slaboh, the leader of the Sagbama Ex-agitators Camp, who is also the National Secretary of the PAP Third Phase Leaders, spoke to journalists on the background of the recent stakeholders meeting held with the PAP officials to discuss the modalities for the implementation of the cooperative programme in Yenagoa.
According to him, Ndiomu deserves commendation and applause for fulfilling his promise to establish a cooperative society for the betterment of the ex-agitators, a promise the immediate past Interim Administrator, Col Millard Dikio, couldn’t implement before he left office.
“As I speak to you, the sum of N1.5bn is feasible and has been earmarked to kick-start the program, this is not a kangaroo, but a reality,” he stated.
He further disclosed that the cooperative society would be registered at the federal level, after which there will be another engagement between ex-agitators and the PAP officials to fine-tune the modalities, noting also that the program will start with a sizeable number of delegates in batches until the 30,000 delegates are captured.
“We have been unanimously assured that within the next two weeks, the cooperative society limited will be incorporated and another meeting convened to discuss the modalities,” he stated.
He, therefore, advised delegates to be calm as everybody will benefit from the scheme, which is meant to change the livelihood and fortune of delegates of the Program.
“Nobody should panic, exercise any doubt and resort to protest or petition, as all the 30,000 delegates of PAP will benefit, but in batches,” he assured.
Also speaking in their separate interviews, Princewill Kotingo and Occasion Victor, lend their voices to express their profound appreciation and gratitude to the Interim Administrator for bringing the cooperative society dream to fruition in spite of fear and doubts being expressed, adding that members of the program will no longer depend on monthly stipends, but will now be employers of labour, wealth creators, entrepreneurs and self-reliance in areas they would deploy the funds.
They advised Niger Deltans and stakeholders to keep supporting Ndiomu and call on him not to relent in performing his statutory functions despite the challenges he faces, which by God’s grace, he will overcome.
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
