Buhari Told To Consider CSOs, NGOs Personnel As Next Presidential Amnesty Chief

A civil society group, Niger Delta Progressive Youth Forum (NDPYF), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to consider appointment of personnel of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) as next presidential amnesty programme chief.

The group urged the federal government to avoid appointing politicians or anybody affiliated to any militant camp to the position, arguing that the class of people has affected the performance of the PAP and also created needless tension, rumbling, bickering and rivalries among stakeholders in the region.

The group in a press statement signed by its National President, Mr Napoleon Ehiremen, on Friday said that rather than scrapping of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), the federal government should focus more on appointing people that are not politically tainted to lead the organisation than contemplating scrapping it.

The group said the establishment of the programme has helped in no small way in restoring peace and stability to oil explorations in the region. 

According to the group, the creation of PAP by the Federal Government under the leadership of Late president Musa Yar’adua was the best decision taken to arrest the deteriorating insecurity in the region adding that the laudible programme must not be allowed to die as the consequences were better imagined.

“NDPYF in all humility and sense of purpose wishes to advise the FG to avoid appointing politicians or anybody affiliated to any militant camp as this has affected the performance of the PAP and also created needless tension, rambling, bickering and rivalries among stakeholders in the region.

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“Why cautioning against politicizing the affairs of the organisation and using its funds for political settlements, NDPYF advises the president to shun political interference and consider Civil Society Organizations ( CSO) as neutral area to make appointments into the PAP.

“The Presidential Amnesty Programme has struggled to achieve the little it has so far because it has become too political in its dealings.

“Essentially allowing politicians to be deeply involved in the activities of organization is poor and this regrettably has impacted negatively in the discharge of its responsibilities to the ex-agitators and the region at large.

“Also the organisation’s funds are being diverted to areas that are not under its terms of contract or the reasons for which it was set up”, he said.

The NDPYF however enjoined the President to consider his next appointment from among the civil societies and NGOS that have distinguished themselves in the pursuance of peace in the region, adding that this would create a level of neutrality and enhance performance in the discharge of its responsibilities. 

“There are civil society groups and NGOS that have promoted peace in the region, they are not politicians nor militants but sincere advocates for peace, they know the people and the people trust them. If the president choses the next leadership of PAP from these organisations they will sure give to him the desired result. 

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The group further stressed that PAP is well positioned to maintain and promote peace in the region through the training and rehabilitation of ex-militants adding that what the organisation need is new and untainted individual with fresh ideas to further make it effective and result orienting.