…Warns Of Fresh Tensions In Niger Delta
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has condemned the 72-hour ultimatum issued by the House of Representatives to the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, describing the move as reckless and capable of destabilising the fragile peace in the Niger Delta.
The House had threatened to issue a warrant of arrest should Otuaro fail to appear before its Public Accounts Committee, a development the IYC said was unnecessary and ill-timed.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Council’s national spokesman, Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill, said while the IYC respects the constitutional role of legislative oversight, the tone and timing of the directive amounted to a needless distraction from critical national issues.
Princewill noted that since assuming office, Otuaro has demonstrated “unquestionable commitment” to the PAP mandate through steady engagement with stakeholders, prompt payment of stipends, and expanded scholarship and vocational training opportunities for ex-agitators.
“The PAP remains central to the peace and stability of the Niger Delta,” Princewill said, adding that, “Threatening its leadership with arrest over procedural inquiries undermines the progress made and sends the wrong signal to the region.”
He urged the House of Representatives to channel its energy into addressing Nigeria’s mounting security challenges, inflation, and widespread economic hardship, rather than “targeting a single public official.”
He added, “Our people are dying from banditry, kidnapping and economic distress. The National Assembly’s attention would be better served by working with the President to tackle these issues instead of issuing arrest warrants that could be perceived as politically motivated.”
The IYC further noted that the alleged financial discrepancies referenced in the Auditor-General’s report were already being handled through proper channels, adding that Otuaro had pledged full cooperation with the audit process as “government is a continuous process.”
According to Princewill, criminalising the PAP leadership without due process risks eroding public trust and could reignite tensions in the oil-rich region.
The Council therefore called on the House of Representatives to withdraw the 72-hour ultimatum and the threat of arrest, and instead engage constructively with the PAP leadership to resolve all audit questions transparently.
Princewill added that lawmakers should prioritise legislative interventions that address the country’s worsening insecurity and economic difficulties.
“The IYC remains committed to advocating for the rights and development of the Ijaw people and the entire Niger Delta. We stand ready to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure peace, justice and prosperity across Nigeria”, the statement added.
