The Mayor of Urhoboland and notable ex-militant leader in the Delta region, Eshanekpe Israel, also known as Akpodoro, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to target individuals he described as blackmailers hindering developmental progress in the Niger Delta region.
According to Akpodoro, these mischievous elements are responsible for the recent attacks on Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP). In a statement made in Abuja on Thursday, he responded to calls by individuals he labeled as proteges of a prominent ex-militant leader for Otuaro’s removal, identifying the sponsor of this blackmail as a well-known Phase 1 ex-militant leader, whom he criticized for using underlings to undermine Otuaro’s efforts.
Akpodoro encouraged Dr. Otuaro to remain undeterred by the vilification from these questionable characters, asserting that they are remnants of past corruption within the Amnesty Programme. He expressed his support for Otuaro’s commitment to revitalizing the programme for the benefit of all Niger Deltans, emphasizing the need for a strong and reliable Amnesty Programme.
The ex-militant leader reflected on a time when the Amnesty office reportedly paid substantial sums to the sponsor of the calls for Otuaro’s dismissal during personal celebrations. He praised Otuaro for halting such corrupt practices and for his efforts to enhance productivity within the programme.
“Dr. Otuaro,” Akpodoro stated, “will not succumb to any blackmail or malicious sentiment; he will serve his people with integrity, striving to eradicate corruption and sleaze in his administration to benefit the larger population of Niger Deltans.”
He further accused civil servants within the Amnesty Office of colluding with notorious elements to leak classified documents, contributing to the ongoing attacks on Otuaro. “Everyone involved in past corruption and current efforts to undermine Dr. Otuaro’s administration is known and will be named and shamed soon,” he asserted.
Additionally, Akpodoro highlighted that attacks on Otuaro may be linked to his association with High Chief Government Ekpemukpolo, also known as Tompolo, the Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nig LTD. He noted Tompolo’s success in combating oil theft and how those involved in such criminal activities are retaliating against anyone connected to him, including Dr. Otuaro.
“They are reacting to the stringent security measures implemented by Tantita Security Services in the Western axis of the Nigerian waterways, which have disrupted their criminal enterprises,” Akpodoro explained.
He concluded by reaffirming the collective aspirations of the Urhobo people and their support for leaders who prioritize the community’s welfare over personal gain. He called on the Head of Service to restructure the workforce in the Amnesty Office to facilitate meaningful development in the Niger Delta region.