FG has not sidelined Imo indigenes in Amnesty programme, says Boro
Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta, Brig-Gen. Paul Boro (rtd) on Monday took a swipe at the leadership of the Imo state government for accusing the federal government of excluding its indigenes from the amnesty programme, saying Imo is top on list of beneficiaries.
Gen. Boro who presented certificates to three beneficiaries of the amnesty programme including an indigene of Imo state, Okorie Christopher Chukwuemeka who had graduated with First Class degree from a University in Belarus, Russia, also faulted the claim of the state that there was no single federal government presence in Imo state.
He said: “Another happiness I have is that this gentleman, Okorie Christopher Chukwuemeka is from Imo state and Imo state complains greatly that federal government has not impacted in that state as much.
“Even when we went on a visit with the Acting President to Imo, state, the leadership of the state mentioned that the federal government has not got any presence in that state and that nobody from the state is a beneficiary of the Amnesty programme and I mentioned in the state, the number of persons that are in the programme.
“It was as if I was lying but in my capacity as somebody who rose to be a General in the Nigerian Army, I know who I am. I was not the one that sent him over-night to Belarus. He has been there for five years and six months and the federal government of Nigeria has been taking care of him till graduation.
“These informations are verifiable; they are not just media propaganda because you want to please a particular group of people or because you want to please the federal government that is why you are coming up with propaganda.
“This is a statement of fact. This guy graduated, not just graduating but he passed through that institution. He made a First Class”.
Boro expressed happiness that the federal government of Nigeria through the Amnesty Programme had spent so much in terms of investment, human capacity development to make sure that those that found themselves in Belarus graduated very well.
“And because of that, the availability of peace in the region, it is expected by the federal government because they have invested so much in the region.
While thanking the beneficiaries for making the federal government, through the presidential Amnesty programme proud, Gen. Boro assured the beneficiary of economic empowerment saying, “Immediately after this, I will make sure that I empower you so that you can be a very good ambassador of the Amnesty programme”.
