The leadership of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Phase 3 has dismissed allegations that the programme’s Administrator, Chief Dr Dennis Otuaro, embezzled N115 billion allocated to the scheme.
A prominent Phase 3 leader, Gen. John Abugor, described the allegation as unfounded and misleading, challenging those behind the claim to produce verifiable evidence to support their accusation.
Abugor, an indigene of Idjerhe Kingdom in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, was reacting to the allegation attributed to Christopher S. Agbedikuru.
He said claims that increased funding for PAP had disappeared without corresponding benefits to ex-agitators were sweeping and failed to take account of various empowerment, education and leadership-development programmes implemented under Otuaro.
“Otuaro has not embezzled money. The records of what has been done under his administration are there for anyone who genuinely wants to examine them,” Abugor said.
The PAP Phase 3 leader said his assessment of Otuaro’s performance was not based on political patronage or praise-singing but on programmes and interventions he said could be identified and independently verified.
Abugor particularly cited leadership-development programmes organised for former agitators, saying generals and other leaders within the programme had benefited from training aimed at improving their leadership capacity and contribution to peace and development in the Niger Delta.
He also pointed to scholarship initiatives under the current PAP administration, saying thousands of beneficiaries had received sponsorship to study in universities and other higher institutions in Nigeria and abroad.
According to him, the beneficiaries of the programmes constitute evidence that PAP resources are being deployed to achieve the objectives of the amnesty scheme.
He said Otuaro’s administration should be assessed based on its programmes, beneficiaries and measurable outcomes rather than allegations capable of undermining public confidence in an institution established to promote peace, rehabilitation and human-capital development in the Niger Delta.
Abugor described Otuaro as a dependable administrator who had demonstrated commitment to strengthening the human-capital component of PAP.
“We are not praise singers. We are giving a genuine assessment of the good works of the Administrator. If somebody says money has been embezzled, let the person bring the evidence. But if we are talking about performance, there are programmes and beneficiaries that can be identified and verified,” he said.
He urged Niger Delta stakeholders, PAP beneficiaries and members of the public to scrutinise the programme’s records objectively instead of relying on what he described as sensational allegations.
The Phase 3 leader also called on the Federal Government to sustain its support for PAP while strengthening transparency, accountability and monitoring of the programme.
He said resources appropriated for PAP should continue to translate into tangible benefits for ex-agitators, their communities and the wider Niger Delta region.
Abugor further rejected calls for Otuaro’s removal based solely on the alleged N115 billion embezzlement claim, arguing that such a serious accusation should be backed by compelling evidence before being used as a basis for removing an administrator.
He maintained that Otuaro deserved commendation for what he described as progress recorded under his leadership, particularly in education and leadership development, while urging stakeholders to distinguish between legitimate criticism and allegations that could not withstand factual scrutiny.
