By Eseoghene Emuke
An Ijaw group, Ijaw Unity Rally and Peace (IURP) has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to sack his Special Adviser and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Prof Charles Dokubo.
The group berated Dokubo over the recent threat by Niger Delta militants to attack oil facilities in the region if the amnesty boss was removed from office by President Muhammadu Buhari.
It said the militants’ threat and support for the embattled PAP Coordinator was capable of creating renewed agitation and turning the region unnecessary crisis if not immediately nipped in the bud by the federal government.
IURP in a
statement on Sunday signed by its coordinator, Habi Kurokeme, urged President Buhari to sack the Dokubo and
reappoint another capable persons who understands the working of the amnesty
programme and the region.
Kurokeme also called on the Amnesty boss to call the militants who claimed to be supporting him to order, otherwise, he would be held responsible for any attack on oil facility in the region.
It said, “Our attention has been drawn to the showboating of one man, who is notorious for feeding off the palms of the current Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Office.
“This very lazy and jobless man who now masquerades as ‘The Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA)’ was recently quoted by the online version…saying that he “will cripple the nation’s economy with coordinated attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta should the Presidency succumb to the sponsored maneuvering and blackmail by purported cabals to remove the Special Adviser to the President and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Prof Charles Dokubo.
“In the statement this hustler, who is a well known Kalabari man from Rivers, styled himself as “Major General” Johnmark Ezonbi. Nonsense! We know this desperado too well. He does not even know how to shoot a catapult (rubber sling) let alone a gun. He is all mouth and no action! He was only given A Big Promise to replace his fellow Kalabari Brother, the Head of Reintegration in the Amnesty Office.
“On the contrary, it is the belief of all the Niger Delta ex-agitators enlisted in the Presidential Amnesty Programme that Professor Charles Quaker Dokubo has long overstayed his welcome as the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
“In fact, the rising cases of oil theft in the Niger Delta, at a time our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari is looking for money to fund the federal budget is glaringly as a result of the crass ineptitude of Prof. Charles Quaker Dokubo.”
The group posited further that the region was gradually sliding into another rounds of militancy owing to the manner the Special Adviser to President on Niger Delta Affairs (Dokubo) was handling issues pertaining to the peace in the region.
They accused the Dokubo of not understanding the working of the Amnesty Office and how issues involving ex-militants should be handled and resolved.
According to the statement, “Prof. Charles Dokubo does not have an understanding of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. Worst still, he does not even have the capacity to run the Programme. His appointment was a huge mistake in the first place.
“Given his lack of understanding of the Programme, Prof. Dokubo has now been literally held hostage by persons who see the Amnesty Office as a means of making money at the expense of the people. The situation is so bad that the Coordinator has now totally lost control of the Office.
“Senior Civil Servants in the office, conniving with some contractors have taken over power from Prof Dokubo and are now perpetrating colossal and brazen corruption. No wonder he has been visiting EFCC office almost on weekly basis. Very soon, details of his EFCC travail will be released to the general public especially the Benin furniture company issue”.
Meanwhile, efforts to speak with the Special Assistant on Media to PAP Coordinator, Mr. Murphy Ganagana, proved abortive as he could not be reached on telephone.
