Controversy brews as ex-militants pass vote of no confidence on FG's amnesty coordinator
- There seem to be a crack in the relationship between ex-Niger Delta militants and an appointee of government
- The militants are said not be happy with the special assistant on amnesty programme to President Muhammadu Buhari, Brigadier-General Paul Boroh (rtd)
- They accused him of deviating from the vision of the amnesty programme
Some aggrieved Niger Delta repentant militants have passed a vote of no confidence on the special assistant on amnesty programme to President Muhammadu Buhari, Brigadier-General Paul Boroh (rtd) for allegedly deviating from the vision of the programme.
In a statement sent to NAIJ.com on Thursday, January 25 by the Bayelsa state coordinator of the group, Excel Y. Toriomo, popularly call (Leader Monday), the ex-militants alleged that since the inception of Boroh as the amnesty coordinator, the noble intention of the programme has been defeated.
Bayelsa state coordinator of the group, Excel Y. Toriomo, popularly call (Leader Monday) says the purpose of the amnesty programme has been defeated. Photo credit: Bode Olagoke
According to him, the mission statement of the amnesty was to ease the pains of the suffering Niger Delta ex-agitators, by empowering them with different skills but the case is now different.
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Part of the statement read: “Paul Tarela Boroh has been taking us for granted since he came into office, for this reason we the ex-agitators reject the campaign in support of Boroh by Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) by the Abuja chapter, because it is against the constitution of the IYC.
“The federal government didn't grant the amnesty to any organisation, amnesty was given to the freedom fighters who engaged on arm struggle for the South-south region to be developed because the region have long been victimised and marginalized.
“We advice all sons and daughters of the region to disengage themselves from the kangaroo campaign in support of Boroh. Together we say General Boroh must go because Boroh is not conversant with the struggle.
“We are so ashamed that Paul Tarela Boroh is saying that he has trained 21, 850 persons in the amnesty programme. We challenge him to show us 10,000 persons he has trained and just 100 farms he has established in the Niger Delta region.
“We say no to the end of amnesty programme and also to the poor welfare of the beneficiaries of amnesty programme, and to bad leadership style of Paul Tarela Boroh.”
The ex-militants also asked Boroh to publicly give account of his leadership at the amnesty office since his emergence as the coordinator.
Two months ago, over 200 ex-militants from the Niger Delta region protested at the National Assembly over the alleged failure of the government to pay their allowances.
The former militants called on the federal lawmakers to prevail on Boroh to pay their allowances.
They carried placards and sang various solidarity songs demanded for the removal of Boroh on the basis that he was a stumbling block towards the payment of their allowances.
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Source: Naija.ng