The growing call for the removal of the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Maj-Gen. Barry Ndiomu (rtd) is not out of place. Looking at the weighty allegations against the Administrator of the Programme, it's necessary we join the call for his removal in order to restore probity into the PAP.

There are so many undefended corruption allegations against the man. Issues of mismanagement of the Programme is a commonplace. Thus, looting becomes the order of the day. It's therefore important that Ndiomu be relieved of his job in order to properly investigate the allegations against him.

The PAP was created to take care of the ex-freedom fighters in the Niger Delta region who voluntarily accepted the offer of Presidential Amnesty. Maj-Gen Ndiomu who was not a product of the liberation struggle has an acute lack of the basic knowledge of the Programme on one side and the Niger Delta region on the other side. The PAP is the grease that continue to lubricate the wheel of peace in the oil sector.

A person who does not understand the dynamics of the Niger Delta struggle cannot lead a complex body like the PAP which is the reason for peace and tranquility to thrive in the region. Barry Ndiomu's lack of knowledge of the core values of the struggle has made the Programme veered off from the purpose it was established. He did not only turned the Programme into a cashcow to feed fat his pockets, he also gave loans to some unknown beneficiaries who have not been documented into the Programme.

It must be noted that Ndiomu's tenure in the office has practically cancelled all the re-integration and rehabilitation programmes in spite of having budgetary provisions for the those programmes. The PAP under Ndiomu has cancelled the Amnesty school programme which has helped so many ex-agitators to become graduates..

So bad, Barry Ndiomu's tenure in office has brought in mysery and squalor to the ex-agitators. Instead of focusing on his primary responsibility of integration and rehabilitation, Ndiomu is working in cahoot with some corrupt personnel in high places to turn the Programme into a looting spree.

He has practically sidelined the ex-agitators in the running of the affairs of the Programme. He is using his vintage position to suppress dissent voices amongst the beneficiaries who tried to oppose his inimical policies.

Mr. President should not risk the security of the Niger Delta region by entrusting a critical body like the PAP in the hands of a chaleton who have no single knowledge of the Programme. The Amnesty Programme had suffered a lot of administrative atrocities in the hands of looters who occupied the office for the past eight years.

Barry Ndiomu has overstay his usefulness in that office. We're reliably informed that he using his connections and unaccounted wealth to lobby for his continuous stay in that office. President Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu should not fall prey to his scheming.

This is the second time we are raising alarm about the corruption in the PAP. During the government of your immediate predecessor, we wrote a twelve page petition to him, itemizing the corruption in the Programme. President Buhari acted on our petition to remove the then Coordinator.

It's our duty to expose corrupt practices in public services. The Amnesty Programme under Ndiomu needs a holistic investigation. His presence in that office will obstruct any moves to investigate him. We therefore beg President Tinubu to immediately remove Maj-Gen. Ndiomu from the Amnesty office in order for the relevant authorities to investigate him.

The Amnesty beneficiaries are wallowing are abject poverty due to the mismanagement of the PAP but some persons who are privileged to be in the Office are swimming in billions of unaccounted wealth. We need a thorough weeding of that office in order to restore probity. Mr. President should heed to the voice of reasons by immediately remove Maj-Gen Ndiomu from the office.

Signed:
Fuefegha Oyinkedi,
Publicity Secretary,
Centre for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (CHURAC)