A Niger Delta journalist, Chief Jones Abiri, has strongly advised on Delegates of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), to sheathe their swords, embrace peace and avoid acts capable of tarnishing the good images of High Chiefs Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo and Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP.
Recall that some delegates of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, were said to have instigated media attack against the duo of Tompolo and Dr. Otuaro through some of their leaders and Politicians but reacting to that on Sunday in a statement in Yenagoa, Chief Jones Abiri, expressed shock describing it as disgraceful.
Warning them of the dire consequences in future, Abiri, who is also a media practitioner, urged the aggrieved delegates to sheathe their swords, advising that “it was despicable that people who had paraded themselves as leaders would descend so low as to resort to the use of blackmail with hatred to snatch leadership”.
The statement reads:" It is wrong for “our leaders of tomorrow to engage in such awful acts. It is disdainful and a mark of indecency to insult the hallmark of people aspiring to leadership position.
"Was this part of the legacy bequeathed to our generation by late Major Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro? Why should we fuse Niger Delta struggle with hatred and manufactured white lies against our fellow Ijaw men?
"Will such bring strength, peace with genuine unity for the struggle to be attain? Why do we always have such bitter bile against those made by God?
" If you are not there, must others not be there? Why do we anchor such wicked syndrome in the struggle? Is it an injustice to you that Dr. Otuaro shouldn't have been there, and Tompolo to be our leader?
"Why can't we conceptualize good ideas for the overall development of the Niger Delta region, than skimming all time to be appointed in government?"
" What are we envisaging as an enduring legacy that we are going to bequeath to the next generation inline with the philosophy and principles of Boroism? What type of image are we portraying to the global community?
" We should call a spade a spade and retract every false stories that were orchestrated against Tompolo and Dr. Dennis Otuaro, and let's retrace our steps for the genuine struggle that Boro left behind.
"Peoples' who aspire for leadership must abide by God's rule, that only one person must be in leadership position at that material time. We should engage only in decent acts that will bring unity in the Niger Delta struggle and avoid things that may smear our good reputation in the context of Nigerian politics.
“I condemn in strong terms the media embarrassment, petitions and every act of violent talk that were against High Chiefs Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo and Dr. Dennis Otuaro.
“As one who led the media struggle, I feel ashamed that our thoughts are still within positions when we have not gotten the purpose of our struggle".
“It is totally wrong for one to aspire for leadership through campaign of calumny, blackmail with frivolous petitions against same fellow Ijaw brothers. It is shameful and must be condemned.
“I hereby call on the leaders of the Delegates for a genuine meeting to address their teething problem for us to go through the path of dialogue to let peace reign in the region. This meeting will avoid recurrence in the future." The statement concluded.