Presidential Amnesty Programme embroiled in fresh scandal

Fresh scandal has hit the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

It has been alleged that Prof Charles Dokubo, coordinator of the programme, had masterminded the attack on PAP Director of Finance in the office of the Presidential Amnesty Program, Illem, who narrowly escaped death Friday night.

But an Ijaw group, Izanzan Intellectual Camp of IIA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Arerebo Yerinmene Salaco Jnr, accused a “certain director in PAP of orchestrating the conspiracy to blackmail and discredit Prof Charles Dokubo with intention to have him sacked.

Salaco Jnr, statement further claimed IIA is “aware of how certain political bigwigs from other ethnicities are enviously fighting tooth and nail to frustrate smooth running of PAP under Dokubo.

READ ALSO: Report of N3.2bn Amnesty scam a plot to tarnish Prof Dokubo’s image– Contractors

“The body’s latest concern follows a text message conversation, made available to Vanguard, in which the said director raised alarm over an Abuja assassination attempt at his life by armed men allegedly acting in the orders of Dokubo.

In one of the text conversation sent to one Miebi Bribena, the said Director said he was being target to be killed, “because of my refusal to allow them siphon N1.8bn meant for all of you (Amnesty beneficiaries)”.

It further said, “Ijaws have repeatedly passed vote of confidence on Prof. Charles Dokubo who doubles as Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, for his revolutionary enhancement of the running of PAP and the improved benefits it has brought to the development of the region and it people.

“We caution the concerned Director to stop the blackmail against Dokubo and the inclination to constitute a clog in the wheel of the smooth running of the programme.

“Ijaw people have made enormous sacrifices to ensure that the oil rich region is given the attention it deserves. No one can claim ignorance of the huge price Ijaws paid to bring about Presidential Amnesty initiated to give room for long-term solutions to the Niger Deltan agitation.

“We are firmly resolved to protect all sons and daughters of Ijaw Nation whenever our interest conflict with those who do not mean well for us and have always frowned at positive plans initiated by Ijaw people.

We shall never allow anybody to plan evil against our kinsmen and women that are in the helms of affairs.”

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