‘Niger Delta Cannot Afford Another Cycle of Instability’

The Akwa Ibom Ex-Militants Forum has voiced support for Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, rejecting recent calls for his removal. The forum emphasizes the significance of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) in maintaining peace, rehabilitation, and reintegration across the region.

Otuaro has shown a growing focus on education, vocational training, skills acquisition, and sustainable reintegration. The forum specifically commends the expansion of the PAP’s Postgraduate Scholarship Programme, which has seen 243 Niger Delta youths pursue postgraduate studies abroad in 2026 alone. These investments offer opportunities for young individuals to gain knowledge and skills that can benefit the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.

The forum strongly rejects any attempts to undermine Otuaro's position, noting that such campaigns may be driven by ethnic, sectional, personal, or political interests rather than a fair evaluation of the Programme’s performance. The forum clarifies that they do not oppose the Ijaw ethnic nationality, acknowledging their historical contributions to the Niger Delta struggle.

However, they stress that no ethnic group holds ownership over the PAP, which is a federal government initiative aimed at achieving peace, stability, rehabilitation, and development in the Niger Delta. The forum advocates for accountability where genuine allegations arise, but stresses that accountability should not be confused with politically motivated campaigns or destabilizing efforts.

The Akwa Ibom Ex-Militants Forum reaffirms its backing for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Renewed Hope Agenda, promoting stability, responsible leadership, and investments in human capital for the Niger Delta. They believe the true measure of the PAP’s success lies in the peace it preserves, the lives it transforms, the education it provides, and the sustainable future it creates for the region.

The forum urges stakeholders to prioritize peace over politics, development over personal interests, and the collective future of the Niger Delta above ethnic and sectional concerns, as instability in the region cannot be tolerated.