By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
Leaders and elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa have distanced themselves from calls to the sack of the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), retired Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu.
This is contained in a statement issued on behalf of the leaders by Sen. John Brambaifa, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to him, a non-existing group was sponsored to carry out the hatchet job because of the self-inflicting pain they are going through and decided to make Ndiomu their target while playing the victim.
“It has come to the knowledge of the members of APC in Bayelsa West Senatorial District that a purported amorphous APC Elders Forum in Bayelsa called for the immediate sack of Ndiomu.
“The said anonymous forum gave some nebulous reasons as the grounds for the call of the sack of the amnesty boss.
“We wish to state unequivocally and unambiguously that there was no time that we, the authentic APC Elders Forum in Bayelsa, took a decision to call for the sack of Ndiomu.
“The members of APC from Bayelsa West Senatorial District maintain that the present PAP helmsman has created far-reaching impacts in the programme.
“Also, he has contributed significantly to the improvement of the party in the state with the sound reform measures so far taken to reposition the programme,’’ Brambaifa said.
He explained that APC members expressed shock over the show of ingratitude by such a pseudo platform, adding that they failed to appreciate the progressive ideas initiated and implemented by Ndiomu to revamp the interventionist agency.
The Bayelsa APC elders maintained that they are proud of the achievements of Ndiomu in only 10 months in office and would continue to support him to succeed.
They particularly commended his effort in introducing worthy and creative ideas like the Cooperative Scheme for ex-agitators, noting that it will produce the desired results for the benefit of all the people of Niger Delta.
According to them, the establishment of the society will encourage hard work among agitators and has deepened the rehabilitation and reintegration of the ex-agitators in consonance with the original intention of the programme.
“We therefore call on the APC-led Federal Government and the general public to disregard malicious news item against Ndiomu. He has done so well.
“We also use this medium to express our total support for the reform measures designed to reinvigorate the activities of the PAP and, as a result, call on the Federal Government to retain the appointment of Ndiomu as the head of the PAP.
“This will enable him to complete the ongoing reforms that will encourage multiplier effect in the Niger Delta with the concomitant peace that follows,’’ Brambaifa said. (NAN)