Former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly called Tompolo, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Brigadier General Paul Boroh (rtd.) as the new chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme instead of political jobber.
He said that the action of the President only portrayed him as a listening leader with a desire to contribute to the development of the Niger Delta even as he hailed the President on his choice of a retired military officer rather than politicians, who had been scheming to get the job.
“It could be recalled that I called a meeting of ex-agitators, leaders and other stakeholders in the Niger Delta last week as a result of the pressure on me to intervene in the seemingly troubled Amnesty Programme, due to the non-payment of the stipends and allowances to beneficiaries for months now.
“And so, it gives me joy for the President to appoint a high-ranking retired military gentleman to coordinate the programme rather than any of the political jobbers, who had advertised themselves in very negative forms in order to be appointed.”
He advised the new Amnesty Coordinator to ensure that critical stakeholders were consulted on the running of the programme and to avoid yielding to the antics of political jobbers, who have an intent to politicize the programme. [myad]
