The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has accused some Niger Delta critics of Administrator Dennis Brutu Otuaro of blackmailing him over the enforcement of the Federal Government’s Bank Verification Number (BVN) policy, alleging that they want bogus contracts and higher payments.
The programme said the critics were unhappy with Otuaro’s decision to enforce the BVN policy and introduce reforms aimed at eliminating fraudulent practices in the office.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Special Assistant on Media to the Administrator, Igoniko Oduma, said the PAP would not succumb to what it described as a campaign of calumny against Otuaro.
The office said the BVN policy, which links individuals’ bank accounts, was a Federal Government directive designed to curb fraud and corruption, adding that the PAP could not be exempted from its implementation.
It alleged that some of Otuaro’s accusers were angered by the statutory payments they received and the administrator’s refusal to award what it described as bogus contracts.
“The PAP office cannot be the exception in the execution of the government’s policy on BVN designed to eradicate corruption in the society,” the statement said.
The programme further claimed that the critics had been invited to verify their allegations but failed to honour the invitation.
It described the accusations against Otuaro as false and misleading, saying they were intended to tarnish his reputation and distract him from his responsibilities.
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The PAP said the administrator’s reforms had plugged loopholes previously exploited for personal interests, while ensuring the efficient use of funds approved for the programme.
It also highlighted what it described as achievements under Otuaro’s leadership, including the award of 13,300 onshore and more than 500 offshore scholarships, as well as the distribution of laptops to beneficiaries.
The office said it had ensured prompt payment of monthly stipends to ex-agitators and disclosed that four cadet pilots and 20 other aviation trainees had secured employment after training.
It added that 40 cadets had been engaged in on-the-job training, 98 maritime cadets had received professional certification, while more than 360 stakeholders had been trained in alternative dispute resolution and mediation.
The PAP said it remained committed to educational and vocational empowerment, peace-building and sustainable development in the Niger Delta.
It also thanked stakeholders and regional leaders for supporting Otuaro’s vision for sustainable peace and socio-economic development.
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