...As Ex Agitators are Entitled to Benefit From the Upward Review of the Amnesty Office's Yearly Budget. "The Funds are Regional Resources and Must Serve the Interests of the People, not Individuals." 

Apostle Perela OsiaEzekiel Daniel has launched an attack on the former President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Udengs Eradiri, following suggestions that the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) should be scrapped.

In a strongly worded statement, Apostle Daniel criticized Eradiri's stance on the monthly stipends meant for Niger Delta delegates, describing the proposal to end the program as thoughtless and insensitive to the economic realities facing youths in the region.

Apostle Daniel argued that Eradiri has consistently displayed a lack of sound judgment since his tenure as IYC President, a period he claimed led to division within the council. 

He rejected Eradiri’s comments mocking delegates over the standard ₦65,000 monthly allowance, pointing out that beneficiaries are entitled to an upward adjustment given the recent increase in the Amnesty Office's budget.

"It is the delegates' right to enjoy an increment from the jack-up in the Amnesty Office's monthly allocation... The money belongs to the region, not to any individual."

Daniel further questioned Eradiri's moral standing to lecture delegates, alleging that Eradiri himself relies on political patronage and errand work within local security outfits rather than standing independently.

Addressing the current leadership of the Amnesty Office under Dennis Otuaro, Apostle Daniel emphasized that the recent budget increases secured for the office were meant to cushion the harsh economic conditions for beneficiaries, not to serve personal interests or fund private juju cultural festivals in Oporoza.

He stated that the advocacy for increased funding was driven by the need to support the youths directly, insisting that the administration must ensure the funds reach the intended beneficiaries.

Dismissing calls from any quarters, including some leaders or the Federal Government to scrap the initiative, Apostle Daniel asserted that the era of key figures dictating the fate of the Niger Delta people without accountability is over.

He maintained that the demand for increased allowances for delegates remains non-negotiable, concluding that the Amnesty Office exists primarily to serve the needs of the region's youths.