The leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), has backed Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, saying he is a product of the Ijaw struggle for self-determination.
They lauded Otuaro for providing innovative leadership and ensuring a paradigm shift in the operations of the Programme. The President of the INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba, said this when he led a delegation of the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organisation to visit Otuaro at the PAP Office in Abuja.This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the PAP Administrator, Mr Igoniko Oduma yesterday.
Okaba, who congratulated Otuaro, said that the leadership of the INC and the entire Ijaw nation are proud of him. He said the Ijaw nation had been expressing satisfaction with the laudable performance of the PAP boss since assuming office in March, particularly in ensuring a paradigm shift in the programme.
The INC chief thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing Otuaro, noting that the gesture underscored the attempt to address the concerns of the Ijaw nation.
He also expressed gratitude to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for having confidence in the capacity and ability of the PAP boss to deliver on the mandate of the programme.
Okaba said, “We want to say that you have started very well. We have seen the paradigm shift in many areas. We want to thank you. Ijaw people are talking well about you; you are a very pragmatic person, an engager and somebody who is not pursued by problems. Rather, when they come, you confront them frontally.
Responding, the PAP Administrator called for unity among the Ijaw people, assuring the INC leadership that he would not disappoint the Ijaw nation.
Otuaro vowed to work hard to promote Tinubu’s strong will for the sustainable development, peace and security of the Niger Delta.
While thanking the INC for the “legacy visit”, Otuaro said he was poised to make the PAP better with innovations and transparency.
According to him, his administration would increase the number of scholarship students from the current 275 it inherited in the 2023/2024 academic session across various partnering universities in the country.
Otuaro also said that the PAP had designed a scheme to empower not less than 1,000 Niger Delta people in the vocational sectors in the months ahead, adding that he would always do the right things.
