A community leader and activist, Chief Kpenfe Micah, popularly known as Ota 1 of Niger Delta, has countered the recent allegations made on social media by Elder Kwalekeme Cletus against the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), High Chief Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, describing them as "outrageous, fictitious and a deliberate distraction" aimed at undermining the leadership of the PAP.

Kpenfe's reaction, in a press statement made available to journalists on Friday (July 3, 2026), followed remarks from Kwalekeme's who had reportedly alleged that Dr. Otuaro diverted funds belonging to the PAP and disproportionately empowered indigenes of Gbaramatu Kingdom through the scheme.

The Ota 1 of Niger Delta dismissed the allegations as unfounded, insisting that they lacked credible evidence and were intended to divert attention from what he described as the Administrator's ongoing reforms of the Programme.

According to him, since assuming office, Dr. Otuaro has prioritized transparency, accountability, inclusiveness and effective service delivery, while expanding opportunities in education, vocational training, entrepreneurship and other empowerment initiatives for qualified beneficiaries across the Niger Delta.

"Since assuming office, Dr. Dennis Otuaro has pursued policies aimed at repositioning the Programme to better serve its mandate of promoting peace, human capital development, capacity building and sustainable empowerment for qualified beneficiaries across the Niger Delta region. His administration has consistently emphasized inclusiveness, accountability and due process.

"It is therefore unfortunate that certain individuals would resort to spreading unsubstantiated allegations capable of misleading the public and distracting the Administrator from the important responsibility entrusted to him by the Federal Government," he added.

He further argued that portraying the Programme as favouring a particular people in the Ijaw ethnic group was misleading and capable of breeding unnecessary suspicion among the diverse ethnic nationalities in the region.

"The Presidential Amnesty Programme is a Federal Government intervention established to promote peace and empower qualified beneficiaries across the Niger Delta, irrespective of their ethnic nationality or place of origin," Kpenfe stated.

He challenged those making allegations of financial misconduct to present verifiable evidence before the appropriate anti-corruption and security agencies instead of resorting to what he described as "media trials and character assassination."

The Niger Delta stakeholder further urged the public to disregard the allegations against the PAP Administrator, maintaining that they were calculated attempts to distract him from the responsibility of consolidating the gains of the Programme.

"I equally urge the general public to disregard the fictitious claims against Dr. Dennis Otuaro, as they appear to be calculated efforts to undermine his leadership and the ongoing reforms within the Presidential Amnesty Programme." 

Kpenfe also called on leaders, stakeholders and beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme to remain united in support of initiatives that promote peace, stability and sustainable development across the Niger Delta.

"Rather than engaging in baseless accusations, stakeholders should support every genuine effort aimed at strengthening the Programme and ensuring that its objectives of sustaining peace, empowering beneficiaries and advancing development across the Niger Delta are fully realized," he urged.

He expressed confidence that the ongoing reforms under Dr. Otuaro's leadership would further strengthen the Programme's capacity to deliver its mandate of human capital development, empowerment and lasting peace in the region.