Former All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Bomadi Constituency in the 2023 Delta State House of Assembly elections, Amb. Kingsley Muturu, has thrown his weight behind the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), High Chief (Dr.) Dennis Otuaro.

Muturu, who is the National Chairman of the PAP Phase II Ex-Agitators, made his position known in a strong-worded statement condemning what he described as years of corruption, greed, and manipulation within the Amnesty Programme by some ex beneficiaries.

In the statement, the APC former candidate admitted that many Phase II leaders misused opportunities granted to them in 2010 when 6,166 beneficiaries were approved under the administration of then President Goodluck Jonathan.

He alleged that funds meant for the development of communities and empowerment of youths were diverted by some camp leaders who abandoned their followers and relocated to cities, yet continue to enjoy the benefits of the programme.

Muturu also called out some Phase II leaders in Bayelsa State who have taken to blackmail by turning petition-writing against the Amnesty Office into a business to create confusion and to negotiate money, only to later withdraw their accusations when settlements are reached. 

He further noted that these individuals praise the office when there is money to share, but attack it when there is none.

On the ultimatum issued by the House of Representatives Public Audit Committee, he slammed some House members for allegedly supporting such individuals, urging them to focus instead on executing constituency projects and addressing insecurity in their areas.

“Dr. Dennis Otuaro refused to encourage their usual petition-and-sharing-money pattern, and that is why they are angry today,” he stated.

The National Chairman warned that if the situation continues, the aggrieved ex-agitators would be confronted directly, stressing that "enough is enough!"

On behalf of Phase II ex-agitators, he apologized for the actions of some members and called on them to focus on community development, youth empowerment, and peace in the Niger Delta.

Muturu appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sustaining the Amnesty Programme and his commitment to the development of the Niger Delta, and described Otuaro as an accessible, fair, transparent, and hardworking leader who has revived local and foreign scholarship programmes, restored leadership training, and resumed educational placements for beneficiaries.

He appealed to the National Assembly, stakeholders, Niger Delta communities, security agencies, and the general public to ignore the ongoing petitions against the Amnesty Office, describing them as acts of blackmail and destabilization.

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