General Sunday Obioma has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately remove Dennis Otuaro as Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), warning that the President risks losing the support and votes of Niger Delta ex-agitators and their followers if urgent action is not taken to address their growing grievances.

Obioma, who expressed deep dissatisfaction with the administration of the programme, accused Otuaro of failing to translate the reported increase in the programme’s annual budget into tangible improvements in the welfare of its core beneficiaries. 

He argued that despite the increased budgetary allocation under the Tinubu administration, ex-agitators continue to face economic hardship, with their monthly stipends allegedly failing to reflect the programme’s expanded financial resources.

According to Obioma, the situation has left many former agitators feeling neglected and abandoned by an initiative originally established to address their concerns, support their reintegration into society and promote lasting peace and stability in the Niger Delta.

He lamented that the Presidential Amnesty Programme, which was designed to provide opportunities and sustainable livelihoods for former militants who embraced the federal government's amnesty initiative, had allegedly lost its original purpose under Otuaro's leadership.

Obioma further accused the PAP administrator of running the programme in a manner that allegedly favours his friends, associates and family members at the expense of the ex-agitators for whom the initiative was established.

He described the situation as an unacceptable departure from the programme's founding objectives, alleging that while individuals close to the administrator enjoy its benefits, genuine beneficiaries are left struggling to meet their basic needs.

The general reportedly characterised the situation as the transformation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme into what he described as a “Gbaramatu Amnesty Programme,” alleging that the programme's benefits are concentrated among a select group of people rather than distributed in a manner that adequately addresses the needs of ex-agitators across the Niger Delta.

Obioma maintained that the alleged marginalisation of former agitators has generated widespread dissatisfaction among the programme's beneficiaries, warning that continued neglect could undermine the peace and political goodwill the federal government seeks to sustain in the oil-rich region.

He also alleged that Otuaro's leadership has contributed to growing resentment among ex-agitators, suggesting that the administrator's approach could have serious political consequences for President Tinubu ahead of future electoral contests.

According to him, the President should not assume that Niger Delta ex-agitators and their followers will continue to support his administration while their welfare concerns remain unresolved.

Obioma warned that the dissatisfaction could translate into a significant loss of votes for the ruling administration across communities and networks associated with the former agitators.

He therefore urged the Presidency to intervene without delay, insisting that retaining Otuaro in office despite the allegations and complaints could further alienate a constituency whose support may be politically significant.

The general stressed that increasing the annual budget of the Presidential Amnesty Programme would achieve little if the additional resources did not result in measurable improvements in the living conditions of the people the programme was created to serve.

He called on President Tinubu to prioritise the welfare of ex-agitators, ensure greater accountability in the management of the programme and take decisive steps to address the grievances attributed to its current administration.

Obioma's central message to the President was unequivocal: the federal government must act swiftly to restore the confidence of former agitators or risk losing their political support.

He insisted that the Presidency should not ignore the mounting concerns surrounding the programme, arguing that the continued neglect of its beneficiaries could jeopardise both the government's political interests and the broader objective of sustaining peace in the Niger Delta.

For Obioma, the immediate removal of Otuaro is the necessary first step towards addressing the alleged failures of the programme and restoring the confidence of ex-agitators who believe their interests have been sidelined.

“Sack Otuaro now or lose our votes in totality,” Obioma declared, delivering a blunt warning to President Tinubu that the grievances of Niger Delta ex-agitators could no longer be ignored.