IYC seeks extension of Otuaro’s tenure for Niger Delta peace
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Western Zone, has called for the extension of the tenure of the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, describing his leadership
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Western Zone, has called for the extension of the tenure of the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, describing his leadership as critical to sustaining stability in the Niger Delta.
In a statement signed by Chairman Comrade Nicholas Igarama, Secretary Ebi Joshua Olowolayemo Esq., and Information Officer Comrade Tare Magbei, the council said continuity in the administration of the Programme is essential to consolidating ongoing reforms and preserving the fragile peace anchored on the Amnesty framework.
The group passed a vote of confidence on Dr. Otuaro, stating that his stewardship has brought “stability, administrative focus, and a clear understanding of the delicate history and structure of the Programme.”
According to the IYC, the Presidential Amnesty Programme was “borne out of an Ijaw-led armed resistance against state repression, environmental devastation, and economic exclusion,” stressing that its leadership must reflect the historical realities that gave rise to it.
“The Amnesty Programme exists because the Nigerian state could not silence the Ijaw struggle through force. That reality must remain central to any honest conversation about its origin and direction,” the statement read.
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The council warned against what it described as “threats, ultimatums, and revisionist claims” by a group it accused of distorting the history of the Niger Delta struggle, insisting that such actions risk undermining hard-won peace.
“We consider it deeply irresponsible for any organization to threaten oil production or public order as a bargaining tool,” the IYC said, adding that peace in the region “was secured through sacrifice and difficult choices made by Ijaw youths who placed national stability above prolonged conflict.”
The council urged President Bola Tinubu to “disregard the distractions of political noisemakers whose interventions are driven by narrow interests rather than regional stability,” and to prioritise consistency and institutional memory in managing the Programme.
“At this critical moment, consistency and institutional memory are essential. We therefore recommend the extension of Dr. Otuaro’s tenure to consolidate ongoing reforms and preserve the fragile peace anchored on the Amnesty framework,” the statement concluded.