A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Bayelsa State and the South South Coordinator of The Asiwaju Group(TAG), Pastor Reuben Wilson, has accused the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme(PAP), Gen. Charles Tariye Ndiomu(rtd) of acting the script of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
He asserted that Gen. Ndiomu is working towards stopping the APC from emerging victorious in the polls slated for 11th of November, 2023.
Contrary to the Interim Administrator’s claim that the APC deputy governorship candidate for the election, Joshua MacIver, is not recognized as a beneficiary of the PAP monthly stipends the contrary is the case as he is captured in the PAP data base as one of its first beneficiaries.
Pastor Wilson, who also doubles as the founder of the Pastor Reuben Initiative for Good Leadership and Accountability, PRIGLA a support group in the APC, said that Joshua MacIver and his camp members have been receiving the monthly stipend from the Amnesty Office from the inception of the programme till date, insisting that his camp had been participating actively in all programmes of the PAP till date and there has not been issues concerning his status as a beneficiary.
He expressed shock over claims by Maj.Gen. Ndiomu (rtd) that there is no evidence whatsoever which suggest that Joshua MacIver’s is a beneficiary of PAP, saying that such claim is at best worrisome and and call to question the safety and sanctity of the PAP data base of beneficiary.
According to Pastor Wilson: “The Great Joshua MacIver was in fact, the first ex-agitator in Bayelsa State that left the creeks to embrace peace and the PAP. He is even ahead of me in hierarchy with respect to the Niger Delta struggle that led to the proclamation of the PAP.
“I’m deeply worried by the claim of the Interim Administrator of the PAP because it’s becoming very obvious that some persons have tampered with the original documents of the Presidential Amnesty Office and are manipulating same to advance their selfish and political interests.
“From all indications the PAP Interim Administrator seems to be working for the interest of the PDP in Bayelsa State and is therefore,doing everything to give undue advantage to the party in the forthcoming Bayelsa State Gubernatorial election slated for the 11th of November, 2023.
“This is owing to the fact that Mr Joshua Maciver is the Deputy Gubernatorial candidate of the APC in the above-stated election and some persons want a repetition of what happened to the party in the 2019 Bayelsa Gubernatorial election so that they can hold on to power in the state through the back door.
“I’m therefore calling on the National Security Adviser(NSA) to suspend the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme immediately from office and probe the circumstances surrounding his claims against Mr. Joshua Maciver. The NSA should probe his claims and ensure that the truth prevails in this matter.
“The PAP was the brainchild of Chief Timipre Sylva, the former Governor of Bayelsa State and the current gubernatorial candidate of the APC for the 11th November, 2023 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election. Chief Timipre Sylva initiated and designed the PAP and presented it to late President Yar’Adua who saw the viability and the relevance of the programme and gave his approval.
“The PAP was thereafter proclaimed and established by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration. Chief Sylva knows the details of all the first phase beneficiaries of the PAP because he was at the centre of the activities that led to the establishment of the programme.
“Furthermore, from the actions of people like the Interim Administrator against the APC that appointed him, it is very obvious that it’s not in the best interest of the ruling party to be appointing into sensitive offices persons who are loyal to opposition political parties. Such persons use their positions to advance the interest of their parties at the expense of the ruling party.
”I’m therefore,using this medium to also respectfully call on His Excellency, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and National Leader of the APC to appoint only patriotic and loyal members of the party into sensitive offices in order to protect its interest at all times.”
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