PAP: Ndiomu using cooperative scheme to negotiate reappointment -N/Delta group

By Mike Odafe

A foremost advocacy group under the auspices of Niger Delta Transparency Network, NDTN has faulted the purported cooperative scheme launched by the Interim Administrator of the presidential amnesty programme, Major Gen Barry Ndiomu.

This was disclosed in a statement by the group’s president, Comrade Emury Bekenawei on Friday.

Bekenawei said the loan scheme would impoverish and increase indebtedness among ex-agitators, narrating that the empowerment of beneficiaries should not be in the form of loans but should be free start-up grants.

The group said Ndiomu was not sincere about the cooperative scheme, adding that he was only playing politics with ex-agitators and Niger Delta people to support his reappointment.

He said the programme whichever was initiated by the previous coordinator Colonel Dixion Adikio could have been commenced by now if Ndiomu was serious about it.

The group said the cooperative scheme would not see the light of day under Ndiomu, especially now that his tenure of office had elapsed, coupled with the fact that there was no money to pay amnesty beneficiaries in the Amnesty office.

“There is no N1.5 billion kept anywhere by Ndiomu to kickstart any cooperative loan for amnesty beneficiary. If there is such money stipends of beneficiaries may have been paid by now,” he added.

He accused Ndiomu of using the programme to negotiate his return to the amnesty office,  noting that ex-agitators,  Niger Delta stakeholders and leaders should not take him seriously.

Bekenawei said despite his assurances of admitting ex-agitators in the military, and training ex-agitators with NIMASA and the Petroleum sector, no single ex-agitator had been trained or admitted in the military, noting that the cooperative scheme is one of those lip services of Ndiomu.

“It is also pertinent to note here that the PAP programme is not a microfinance organisation where loans are given to beneficiaries.

“Niger Delta ex-agitators should be entitled to stipends more than they are currently paid, that is what they need now and not loans.

“Notwithstanding some ex-agitators are still currently delisted as beneficiaries from the PAP, and that should be corrected. The introduction of this inducive cooperative scheme by the outgoing Interim Ndiomu administration could be seen as a way to lobby for his reappointment.

“It’s glaring to all that after the attempt to wind down this programme by Ndiomu led Interim administration failed, and causing serious damage to the programme, he is using various ways to renegotiate for the office to completely killed the programme from existence. So he shouldn’t be given a second chance because he certainly has no vision of moving this programme in the right direction”, group added.