The Presidential Amnesty Programme has declared that Federal Government’s ongoing review of the programme will institutionalise and refocus the programme for the overall best interest of its beneficiaries.
A statement issued by its Special Assistant on Media, Murphy Ganagana, disclosed that this was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to deliver the gains of the Amnesty Programme through a transparent process that would ensure that allocated resources were judiciously used.
“The aim is also to ensure that the success of the programme lies on the transformation of ex-agitators from militancy to actualising their aspirations, engaging in businesses and living sustainable livelihood,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Benin National Congress (BNC) has commended President Buhari for sacking Dokubo and declaring that the reorganisation of the programme was overdue.
It alleged that the programme under Dokubo was “reduced to a clan assembly in a village square where genuine concerns of other ethnic nationalities were flagrantly dismissed.”
In a statement issued by the group’s Director of Publicity and Intelligence, Dr. David Ekomwenrenren, it said, “Only concerns of the tribal lineage of the erstwhile coordinator were addressed.
Whilst cautioning against another ‘clannish appointee’ Ekomwenrenren said the group would resist “crass exclusion of Edo State youths in the incoming administration of the programme.”