Boroh’s appointment as Amnesty chairman tears apart Niger Delta

BLESSING EMIAZOR

Some ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta have kicked against the appointment of Brigadier-General Peter Boroh (rtd) as the Niger Delta Amnesty chairman, saying the appointment was a confirmation that the Ijaws own the Niger Delta region.

According to a statement signed by one Commander Joseph Tenumah on behalf of the Itsekiri, the appointment was unacceptable.

Tenumah alleged that “it is on record that from 1996 till date, the Itsekiri people especially my kits and kins of Ugborodo have not only contributed to the internationalisation of the Niger Delta struggle but have in our own small measure played our role when the need arises,” wondering why it was not considered in the latest appointment.

“The appointment of retired Brigadier General Peter Boroh is not only a reconfirmation of the long held view that the Niger Delta is only for the Ijaw while the other ethnic nationalities that constitute the region are seen and treated as second class citizens.

“We have over twenty-five ethnic nationalities that constitute the Niger Delta region and who have in one way or the other contributed meaningfully to the Niger Delta struggle and self determination dream of the region. In all these, when it comes to the sharing of the dividends of the struggle they are usually hijacked by only the Ijaw and in most cases every other ethnic nationalities are seen as mere followers, this should not be if justice, fairness and equity as contained in the Nigerian constitution are anything to go by.

“It is on record that from 1996 till date the Itsekiri people especially my kits and kins of Ugborodo have not only contributed to the internationalisation of the Niger Delta struggle but have in our own small measure played our role when the need arises.

“I believe very strongly that the appointment of the respected army general from the Ijaw extraction is another bitter-pill that our people cannot swallow at this time. I do not have personal grudges or issues with the retired army general but the appointing authority ought to know that there exists several other ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta and that the Niger Delta is not synonymous with the Ijaws alone.

“It is on record that the first chairman of the Amnesty programme, Mr. Timi Alaibi is an ijaw from Bayelsa State; the immediate past chairman, Mr. Kingsley Kuku is an Ijaw from Ondo State while the incoming chairman is another Ijaw from Bayelsa State. What a funny scenario?

“In the light of the above, we strongly reject this appointment and request that an emergency stakeholders’ meeting be convened to chart the way forward.”

But on the contrary, Prince Monday Whiskey, former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the chairman of DESOPADEC, applauded the Federal Government over the latest appointment, saying Boroh was a welcome development.

He said it was a clear indication that President Buhari was a listening president.

In a statement he personally signed, Whiskey said “the appointment of the retired army general has also shown that our president, General Muhammadu Buhari, is a listening leader whose policies and programmes should be supported to reposition our great country.

According to the former SA, Media, the appointment of retired Brigadier General Peter Boroh is not only a welcome development but also a big relief to the entire Niger Delta region and especially all genuine ex-agitators.

“I strongly advise the new appointee to see his appointment as a call to duty and to urgently remedy an almost bad situation, he must be firm, fair and show greater commitment by ensuring that equity returns to the programme and ensure that those who merited the benefit of the programme are carried along.

“The appointment of the retired army general has also shown that our president, General Muhammadu Buhari, is a listening leader whose policies and programmes should be supported to reposition our great country.”

Also, the spokesman of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Mr Eric Omare, said that the appointment was a show of sensitivity of the administration to the aspirations of the region.

“The IYC commend President Muhammadu Buhari for responding to the agitation of the Niger Delta people by appointing a coordinator for the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

“In our opinion this is the first step toward resolving pressing and pending issues relating to the Niger Delta amnesty programme.

The IYC, he said, urged Boroh to take steps to pay outstanding tuition fees and allowances of beneficiaries, especially those studying abroad.

In his contribution, the Niger Delta Coordinator of Artisan Fishermen Association of Nigeria, Rev. Samuel Ayadi, urged Boroh to urgently commence work on the promises made by the president to the region.

“We applaud Boroh’s appointment and want him to look into the problems of the Niger Delta region with particular reference to the many pending oil spill compensations. A typical example is the Bonga oil spill incident.

“The National Assembly and oil industry regulator directed Shell to pay us $3.6 billion but they declined to pay. The president should compel Shell to comply with the directive,” Ayadi said.

Also, Mr Namso Ekpo, President, Onna Industrial Youth Cooperative, a Niger Delta-based group, said that the appointment was a welcome development.

Ekpo advised Boroh to ensure expedited development of the Niger Delta region.