A group, the Niger Delta Coalition for Peace and Progress (NDCPP) has accused the National Security Adviser, General Babagan a Mongunu (Rtd) of plotting to end the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
This is as it commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for the appointment of Colonel Milland Dixon Dikio (Rtd) as interim administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
NDCPP, in a statement made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt, alleged that Monguno was involved in all the financial malfeasance and politicking that have characterized the amnesty programme lately.
The statement, which was signed by Pastor Tiedor Jude Olayinka and Comrade John Nicholas, President and Secretary, respectively, wondered why the probe findings of the panel set up to investigate two former Amnesty programme helmsmen, Brigadier-General Paul Boro (Rtd) and Prof. Charles Dokubo, were still shrouded in secrecy.
It reads in part: “Now, let us look at the Presidential Amnesty Programme more closely, we all know that the Presidential Amnesty Programme is supervised through the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) headed by Rtd Gen. Babagana Mongunu.
“In clearer terms, whoever is appointed to head the Amnesty Programme is answerable to the National Security Adviser.
A lot has been happening at the Amnesty office that the public has not taken cognizance of.
“We are certain that the National Security Adviser is neck deep in almost all the financial malfeasance and politicking that have characterized the Amnesty program including allegations of financial impropriety leveled against both Rtd. Brg. Gen. Paul Boro and Prof. Charles Dokubo.
“We wonder why the probe findings of the panel set up to investigate these distinguished Niger Delta sons are still shrouded in secrecy.
It has become evidently clear that Rtd Gen. Mongunu is the de-facto Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme.
“Before Prof. Charles Dokubo was suspended, there was a Caretaker Committee that was in place for six months, so does it mean the caretaker committee and Prof. Charles Dokubo were working side by side? The National Security Adviser Rtd. Gen. Babagana Mongunu as the de-facto Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme has done a lot of damage to the scheme because of his selfish and manipulative actions.”
The group, which expressed deep worry and concern over the manner in which interventionist agencies in the Niger Delta region were being structured in the wake of leadership instability, said such development gives an impression that the region may be deprived of its benefits if things are allowed to get out of hand.
