IPDI slams Itsekiri group for attacking Amnesty boss
Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2025 10:28 am
The Ijaw People Development Initiative (IPDI) has accused the Warri Youth Council (WYC)—a pro-Itsekiri group —said to be blackmailing the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Dennis Otuaro.
IPDI insisted that WYC’s attacks on Otuaro is due to his Ijaw roots being a native of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State.
In a statement signed by its President, Comr. Ozobo Austin, and Secretary, Peter Luke, the IPDI claimed the Itsekiris are now fighting for inclusion in the Amnesty Programme through blackmail after initially rejecting the idea.
The Ijaw group argued that during the proclamation of the programme, the Itsekiris were not included following their rejection of the disarmament arrangement and was only later considered after an appeal by a prominent figure from the tribe who was wife to the late National Security Adviser, Gen Owoye Andrew Azazi.
The IPDI declared that Itsekiris being part of the PAP is not a right but a privilege given that the Ijaws championed the resource control struggle which brought about Amnesty and also given the fact that the Itsekiris initially rejected the programme.
“We are still maintaining our earlier stand that the Itsekiris were not part of the Presidential Amnesty Programme during the proclamation but they were later considered and included into the Amnesty Programme following an appeal by their daughter who was married to the late National Security Adviser, Gen Owoye Andrew Azazi.
"We state further that the Itsekiris should not abuse the privilege but be grateful to Dr. Otuaro for the additional slots given to them to add to the earlier five hundred slots.
"We wish to reiterate that no disarmament and demobilization of the Presidential Amnesty Programme was held in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, the first, second and third phases of the programme were held in Agbarho and 3 battalions in Delta State.
"The Itsekiris only submitted a political list of their five hundred slots given to them by the then administrator of the program, Dr. Kingsley KuKu, and that should not in any way be seen as disarmament.
"It is an abrupt and reckless attempt by the Itsekiris to now forcefully be crying for inclusion through blackmail, the Itsekiris, who distanced themselves from the Presidential Amnesty Programme only to have a change of mind after seeing the success of the program do not merit a single slot.
"We are aware that they wrote several publications to applaud the federal government for disarming the Ijaw people, alleging that the Ijaws killed their people.
"They stated further that Itsekiris were not militants and will not embrace the program, stressing that their youths were enlightened, educated and peaceful but unfortunately the same people are now shamelessly crying for inclusion.
"It is public knowledge that the Itsekiris declined the Presidential Amnesty granted by the late President Yar’Adua. Anyone who is interested can access the body of information in the public domain,” the statement read in part.
IPDI urged the PAP Administrator not to be deterred or respond to the alleged false allegations by the group including their calls for his sack.
“The Itsekiris do not have the monopoly of violence, and can't threaten to cow constituted authorities with threats to achieve their selfish demands,” the Ijaw group said.
IPDI further tasked President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly and the National Security Adviser to caution the Itsekiris and their youths, warning that if the government fails to call them to order, their activities may disrupt peace and stability in the Niger Delta.
https://www.facebook.com/10006360480855 ... 7S9Ucbxw6v
IPDI insisted that WYC’s attacks on Otuaro is due to his Ijaw roots being a native of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State.
In a statement signed by its President, Comr. Ozobo Austin, and Secretary, Peter Luke, the IPDI claimed the Itsekiris are now fighting for inclusion in the Amnesty Programme through blackmail after initially rejecting the idea.
The Ijaw group argued that during the proclamation of the programme, the Itsekiris were not included following their rejection of the disarmament arrangement and was only later considered after an appeal by a prominent figure from the tribe who was wife to the late National Security Adviser, Gen Owoye Andrew Azazi.
The IPDI declared that Itsekiris being part of the PAP is not a right but a privilege given that the Ijaws championed the resource control struggle which brought about Amnesty and also given the fact that the Itsekiris initially rejected the programme.
“We are still maintaining our earlier stand that the Itsekiris were not part of the Presidential Amnesty Programme during the proclamation but they were later considered and included into the Amnesty Programme following an appeal by their daughter who was married to the late National Security Adviser, Gen Owoye Andrew Azazi.
"We state further that the Itsekiris should not abuse the privilege but be grateful to Dr. Otuaro for the additional slots given to them to add to the earlier five hundred slots.
"We wish to reiterate that no disarmament and demobilization of the Presidential Amnesty Programme was held in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, the first, second and third phases of the programme were held in Agbarho and 3 battalions in Delta State.
"The Itsekiris only submitted a political list of their five hundred slots given to them by the then administrator of the program, Dr. Kingsley KuKu, and that should not in any way be seen as disarmament.
"It is an abrupt and reckless attempt by the Itsekiris to now forcefully be crying for inclusion through blackmail, the Itsekiris, who distanced themselves from the Presidential Amnesty Programme only to have a change of mind after seeing the success of the program do not merit a single slot.
"We are aware that they wrote several publications to applaud the federal government for disarming the Ijaw people, alleging that the Ijaws killed their people.
"They stated further that Itsekiris were not militants and will not embrace the program, stressing that their youths were enlightened, educated and peaceful but unfortunately the same people are now shamelessly crying for inclusion.
"It is public knowledge that the Itsekiris declined the Presidential Amnesty granted by the late President Yar’Adua. Anyone who is interested can access the body of information in the public domain,” the statement read in part.
IPDI urged the PAP Administrator not to be deterred or respond to the alleged false allegations by the group including their calls for his sack.
“The Itsekiris do not have the monopoly of violence, and can't threaten to cow constituted authorities with threats to achieve their selfish demands,” the Ijaw group said.
IPDI further tasked President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly and the National Security Adviser to caution the Itsekiris and their youths, warning that if the government fails to call them to order, their activities may disrupt peace and stability in the Niger Delta.
https://www.facebook.com/10006360480855 ... 7S9Ucbxw6v