Ijaw Publishers Back Dr. Otuaro’s Reforms, Warn Against Blackmail, Call for Massive Support

By Diafa Doubra, Warri

The Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) has thrown its full weight behind the leadership of Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), commending his reform-driven administration for repositioning the programme towards peace, education, and sustainable development in the Niger Delta.

Speaking during a world press conference on Thursday, November 6, 2025, the forum a coalition of media organisations from the Niger Delta lauded Dr. Otuaro’s “clarity of purpose, immeasurable achievements and dedication to service” since his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 14, 2024.

According to the IPF, Dr. Otuaro was appointed into office with a rich academic and professional background, holding a PhD in Comparative Politics and Development Studies, an MSc in Public Administration, and a BSc in Education.

It stated, “Under his leadership, the amnesty programme has moved beyond the routine payment of stipends to ex-agitators and expanded into broader human-capital development. The forum noted that more than 140 scholars have been sponsored overseas particularly in the United Kingdom and South Africa under PAP’s scholarship scheme.

Dr. Otuaro, they said, has consistently emphasised the importance of “giving the programme a human face,” ensuring that it benefits not just ex-agitators but also wider communities in the Niger Delta through education, skills acquisition, and stakeholder engagement.

The Ijaw Publishers Forum further praised Otuaro’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and inclusion, especially his efforts to involve women in peace-building and development processes.

They noted that his leadership reflects a strategic repositioning of PAP, one that is producing tangible results in peacebuilding, vocational training, and sustainable development across communities long affected by militancy and environmental degradation.

While acknowledging that reforms naturally attract resistance, the forum condemned what it described as “misinformation and vested-interest campaigns” against Dr. Otuaro.

According to the statement, some of the attacks stem from his refusal to “open the coffers of the amnesty programme to certain groups of individuals to loot,” a stance the forum said underscores his integrity and determination to protect public funds.

“Genuine criticism and oversight are welcome,” the statement read, “but what we are witnessing in certain quarters are attempts to undermine a capable, reform-minded leader through misdirection and misinformation.”

The forum called on all stakeholders, including PAP delegates, beneficiaries, civil society groups, and youth leaders to unite behind Dr. Otuaro’s reform agenda. It also urged media organisations to engage in constructive reporting and avoid partisan narratives that could derail progress.

“All arms of government federal, state, and local must give PAP the institutional backing it needs to fulfil its mandate,” the forum added.

Concluding, the Ijaw Publishers Forum asserted that the Niger Delta’s progress depends on continuity and credible leadership.

“The future of the Niger Delta will not be served by retreating into old patterns,” said Comrade Ozobo Austin, President of the Ijaw Publishers Forum. “Dr. Otuaro has shown the aptitude, commitment, and vision required to transform the Niger Delta. We stand firmly behind his leadership and urge others to join in building a peaceful and prosperous Niger Delta.”the group asserted.