Ex-agitators from the Niger Delta under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) have publicly distanced themselves from the upcoming nationwide Hunger and Hardship Protest scheduled for October 1. This declaration was made yesterday in Warri, Delta State, during a seminar aimed at promoting unity and support for the current administration.
Leaders of the ex-agitators, including General Andrew Joel Azazi and General Emma Satu, emphasized their commitment to backing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his efforts to revitalize the nation’s economy. In a statement released following the seminar, the group conveyed their belief in the president’s intentions and the necessity of allowing his government time to implement meaningful changes.
“We are beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, and we categorically state that we will not participate in the protest,” the statement read. “We believe President Tinubu means well for Nigeria, and he is diligently working to address the current economic challenges.”
The ex-agitators, numbering over five thousand, underscored their collective decision to withdraw from the planned protest, asserting their faith in the government’s ability to improve the situation. They also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for appointing Dr. Dennis Otuaro as Administrator of the PAP and Chief Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
High Chief Yusuf Eregbene, former chairman of the Delta State Pilgrimages Welfare Board, echoed their sentiments, praising the administration’s efforts to tackle the nation’s economic difficulties. He highlighted that the Tinubu administration has facilitated employment for over ten thousand youths in the Niger Delta through initiatives like Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd.
As the date of the protest approaches, the ex-agitators remain firm in their stance, urging their peers to support the government’s endeavors rather than partake in actions they believe could undermine progress.
