NGO cautions Amnesty delegates over planned protests

Following a statement allegedly issued by some faceless Amnesty beneficiaries to embark on massive protests in the nine Niger Delta states simultaneously, a Non-Governmental Organization, the Patriotic Niger Deltans for Good Governance (PNDGG) has called on youths in the region, particularly Amnesty delegates to dissociate themselves from such call.

PNDGG, in a statement signed on Sunday by its Secretary General, Bekes Aere advised the youth in the region to be weary of politicians who take pleasure in sponsoring unsuspecting youths to carry out protests against constituted authorities.

President of the group, Comrade Adonbra Amgbare, advised the youths to rather focus their energies on developing the region and the nation in general, lamenting that politicians with inordinate ambitions have continued to mastermind such protests in the region, using Amnesty delegates as tools of violence to the detriment of the region.

According to the group’s president, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brigadier General Paul Boroh (Rtd) has not faulted in any way to warrant such unguided protests to embarrass his office, stressing that those behind the planned protest are cowards, who hide behind unsuspecting youths to manipulate the system governance to their own advantage.

The President therefore warned that “this time around the youths in the region will not tolerate such anti-social conducts from political leaders whose past time is to pull down their fellow brothers and sisters in public offices.

He called on all Amnesty delegates in schools within and outside the country to remain calm and go about their normal academic activities as law abiding citizens, just as urged the student delegates to be innovative, productive and creative, reiterating that “they are great assets to their families and the nation at large, in its strides towards attaining stability and development.

He maintained that Boroh, within a short period in office has introduced programmes that are aimed at improving economic fortunes in the Niger Delta and the country at large, pointing out that the youths should be grateful that a visionary leader like Gen. Boroh, is appointed as Special Adviser to the President/Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in this era of change and accountability.

He added that “as peace ambassadors, who willingly dropped arms for the sake of peace in the region, we urge all Amnesty delegates not to allow themselves be used as tools for violence again”.

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja