October 12, (THEWILL) – The immediate past National Spokesperson of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, has cautioned Niger Delta youths, not to allow themselves to be used as agents of distraction, but to realise that they are future leaders of the country.
Comrade Ekerefe gave the caution on the heels of a threat by some Niger Delta Youths to protest against Maj-Gen. Barry T. Ndiomu (rtd.), Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), over unfounded allegations of fraud and incompetence.
In a statement issued in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, the former spokesman of the IYC advised the youths to have a rethink so as not to constitute themselves into being part of the problem to be solved in the society, but to be part of the solution.
Ekerefe wondered why the youths should allow themselves to be used as tools by desperate syndicates, who according to him, have used every available means to sponsor damning publications, including trying so hard to put the National Security Adviser, Mr Nuhu Rubadu, on a collision course with General Ndiomu.
This, according to Ebilade, is desperation taking too far and condemns every action that is geared towards bringing down another Ijaw man because of his position of power. He said actions like this have made the Ijaw nation a laughing stock in the country and appealed to these characters to desist from it.
While Ekerefe acknowledged that some of the policies and reforms of Ndiomu may not be beneficial to certain individuals who have manipulated the system, he emphasised that the reforms are in the best interest of beneficiaries of the programme in the long run and the results have started coming in.
He appealed to youths and beneficiaries who have genuine complaints to seek an audience with the PAP office and resolve issues amicably rather than playing into the hands of mischief makers.
Ekerefe, who has also partnered with the Presidential Amnesty office to give skills training and computer hardware to over 201 Youths of the Niger Delta region while in office as spokesperson of the IYC, pointed out that the Presidential Amnesty office has improved in terms of capacity and entrepreneurial policies for beneficiaries of the amnesty program under Maj. Gen. Barry T. Ndiomu (rtd.).
“This is the same Ndiomu who has shown capacity and love for the youths of the region by creating sustainable livelihoods for ex-agitators and creating a pool of skilled manpower for Nigeria’s Aviation industry with the flag off of the Aviation Resuscitation Programme for Cadet Pilots and Aircraft Maintenance Engineers.”
He commended Ndiomu for the timely Presidential Amnesty Programme Beneficiaries Cooperative Scheme Limited (PAPCOSOL), an initiative which has empowered 1,000 ex-agitators across the Niger Delta in the first batch of its single-digit interest loan scheme. While appealing that those who have applied and are yet to secure their loan should be attended to without any further delay.
Ebilade said that the monthly N65,000 stipends for ex-agitators, is no longer sustainable due to the current economic realities in the country and opined that only PAPCOSOL can bridge the economic gap and make our youths skilled entrepreneurs in the region.
He urged the ex-agitators to take advantage of this initiative and make good out of it as it’s an opportunity that doesn’t rarely come by.
Comr. Ebilade thanked President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser for the confidence reposed on Gen Ndiomu Barry(Rtd) to continue in his good works while assuring them that the Interim administrator enjoys the support and solidarity of progressive stakeholders in the region for contributing to the peace and stability of the Niger delta through PAP.
