Asaba, Delta State | August 14, 2026 — The National Leader of the Niger Delta Youth Assembly (NDYA) and Stakeholder for Delta State Phase 2 Ex-Agitators, Amb. Meshach Ogbona, has described recent publications by TarakiriVoice.ng alleging a crisis in the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) as misleading, diversionary, and sponsored to embarrass the Federal Government.

Amb. Ogbona was reacting to two reports titled "N115bn PAP Budget, N65,000 Stipend: Ex-Agitators Challenge Tinubu, Set August 19 Deadline" and "30,000 Ex-Agitators Still Waiting: Niger Delta Group Blasts PAP, Demands Answers Before Expansion."

He said both publications do not reflect the position of genuine beneficiaries and stakeholders of the Niger Delta, and are attempts to heat up the region ahead of 2027.

"We have read those publications with great concern. The authors are not speaking for the Niger Delta. They are political merchants who only surface when they want to blackmail government officials for personal gain," Amb. Ogbona stated.

The NDYA Leader noted that the Presidential Amnesty Programme, under High Chief Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro, PhD, is the most transparent and accountable the programme has been in years.

He said the Administrator has opened the books for scrutiny, increased stakeholder engagement, and prioritized verifiable empowerment over ghost beneficiaries.

"The talk of N115bn and N65,000 is being thrown around without facts. Dr. Otuaro inherited challenges, but he is fixing them systematically. You don't solve 15 years of structural problems with threats and 19-day ultimatums. That is not how governance works," he said.

Amb. Ogbona added that demanding a "forensic audit" in the media while refusing to engage the Amnesty office through proper channels is an act of bad faith.

Addressing the second publication, Amb. Ogbona said the figure of 30,000 is bloated and inaccurate, and that PAP has a defined database that is currently being cleaned.

"No responsible government expands a programme without first cleaning the register. That is exactly what Dr. Otuaro is doing. Verification, biometric capture, and skills mapping are ongoing. To rush expansion without this process is to invite fraud," he explained.

He urged those claiming to represent "ex-agitators" to present their credentials and stop using media propaganda to create panic.

Amb. Ogbona commended Dr. Otuaro for restoring dignity to PAP and focusing on education, vocational training, cooperative funding, and post-amnesty reintegration.

He said the region is more peaceful today because beneficiaries believe the programme is being managed by one of their own who understands the terrain.

"Before Otuaro, PAP was a cash point. Today, it is a development programme. That is why some people are uncomfortable. They prefer the old order where nothing was accounted for," he stated.

The NDYA National Leader warned individuals and groups to stop issuing threats and deadlines to the Federal Government, saying such actions undermine peace efforts in the Niger Delta.

He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Security Adviser to ignore the sponsored publications and continue to support Dr. Otuaro.

"Mr. President, the Niger Delta is not on fire. The Niger Delta is working. Do not reward blackmail by punishing performance. Reward performance with support. We, the youths and ex-agitators, stand solidly behind Dr. Dennis Otuaro and the Renewed Hope Agenda of PBAT," Amb. Ogbona concluded.

He further urged media organizations to verify claims before publication and avoid being used to destabilize the region.

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