By Denzel Onajero
Urhobo Equality Movement, UEM, a socio-ethnic pan-African group, comprising Urhobo sons and daughters in the Niger Delta have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to adhere to the tenets of his Renewed Hope mantra in the appointment of the next substantive chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, and other key positions in the oil and gas sector.
In an open letter signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Erhirhie Adogbeji and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Walter Aguonigho, the body also beckoned on Nigerians to exercise patience in the Tinubu administration to bring renewed hope to its citizens
Full statement below:
AN OPEN LETTER
APPOINTMENT OF ONE ETHNIC GROUP AS CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY PROGRAM, PAP, BE JUXTAPOSED
We the Urhobo youths under the aegis of Urhobo Equality Movement, UEM, write to appreciate the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for hsg bold strides over the removal of fuel subsidy and the modalities and policies put in place to cushion the hardship that was birthed by the subsidy removal as well as stabilizing our economy.
As a tested and trusted leader with your well earned, eminently deserving antecedents; within the short time of your administration, we know you have been putting great polices and strides in the economy impasse that is resultant from past economic policies of your predecessors.
Any reasonable Nigerian should know that it is too short a time to judge you and for you to make positive head ways to ameliorate their sufferings. Hence the advice of our great Elder and State’s Man, General Yakubu Gowon been yield to; Imploring Nigerians to give you more time as he anticipates light at the end of the tunnel. This we collectively agreed to.
The Urhobo Equality Movement, which is spread across the Niger Delta areas of Nigeria and mainly dominant in Delta Central and South Senatorial District of Delta State, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and micro units in Ondo State, took it upon ourselves as a challenge to ensures that we voted and protected our votes for you in Delta Central, of Delta State and beyond.
These reflects in the entire votes the All Progressives Congress got in Delta State during the last presidential elections and the Urhobos were the main architects.
We therefore state unequivocally, that, among the oil bearing communities of the nine(9) gazetted Niger-Delta States, we have been so lenient and steadfast in the presence of political hiccups and marginalization of all sorts and its ramifications.
Due to our high quantum of our oil and gas reserves, we therefore entreat you, our amiable, pragmatic and charismatic President to look into these high level of neglect on a particular tribe, the Urhobo’s who have strived through the thick and thin of time with our great nation Nigeria in the quest to Eldorado through your “Renewed Hope” agenda.
First and foremost, we implore you to look into the Presidential Amnesty Program, PAP, that has been swaying it’s pendulum of favors to only the Ijaw ethnic nationality of Niger Delta in particular. Since the inception of the PAP, on the 25th day of June 2009, the Ijaws have gained over 97% of appointments into the exonerated office of the Presidential Amnesty Program. It is totally out of place if Paul is been robbed to pay Peter.
It is pertinent to note that, our youths numbering over 32% of the ex agitators who went for the disarmament, are from various oil and gas producing areas with gas and oil facilities in all our local government in Delta Central of Delta State and in some of our communities in Delta South and Sagbama local government area in Bayelsa State.
It will be ideal if the equal and even distribution you made as per the Renewed Hope administration, is extended to the Urhobos.
Aside the fact that it was an Urhobo senior officer who coordinated the disarmament of militants in Niger Delta, and immediately after the disarmament and integration of the ex agitators, Air Vice Marshall Lucky Ogheneochuko Ararile was asked to step aside.
So far so good, the Ijaws have produced over 96 percent of appointees into the Presidential Amnesty Program from Rivers State, Bayelsa State and Ondo State. Ranging from Prof Charles Quaker Dokubo, Gen Paul T Boroh, (RTD) Kingsley K. Kuku, Timi Alaibe including the present interim Administrator, Major Gen Ndiomu Barry, RTD.
We the Urhobo Equality Movement believe in our indefatigable, quintessential, noble President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is a born critical thinker and his resourceful cabinet and aides to look into this matter and treat it with the importance and urgency it deserved.
The Urhobo Equality Movement stand to correct any form of impression birthed by our ijaw/Izon brothers of Niger Delta, who feel it is solely their right and responsibility to always produce the Coordinator of PAP in every administration, as we strongly believe that, it was an oversight on the part of previous administrations of the Federal Government who appoints them before now.
It will interest the general public to know that, ex agitators of Niger Delta cut across the entire ethnic groups including the Urhobos along with various neighbours, participated fully well in the disarmament and integration exercise.
We hereby crave the indulgence of our pragmatic and charismatic President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to appoint an Urhobo son as a substantial Head/Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Program, since the interim administration of Ndiomu Barry ought to have long expired since 2023.
We strongly believe in your Renewed Hope administration Mr President, and keenly relies in your even distribution of appointments to make our great nation greater.
Thanks, as we modestly anticipate your usual and encouraging cooperation.
Yours in the quest to make Nigeria greater and better.
Long live the Urhobo Nation!
Long live the Niger Delta!!
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!
Signed
Comrade Erhirhie P. Adogbeji
National Coordinator, Urhobo Equality Movement
Signed
Comrade Walter Aguonigho
Publicity Secretary.
