Former Niger Delta warlord, HRM (Dr.) Godday Smith, also known as Bounanaowei (King of the Forest), has urged ex-agitators under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) to steer clear of the nationwide protest scheduled for October 1.
This call to action came after an interactive session with ex-agitators in Warri, Delta State, organized by the PAP office.
Dr. Smith emphasized the importance of maintaining peace in the region, stating that development thrives in peaceful areas, while chaos hampers it.
He reminded ex-agitators to honor their agreement with the Federal Government and prioritize peace for the region’s development.
However, Dr. Smith also appealed to PAP Administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, to increase the monthly stipends of ex-agitators, considering the current economic climate.
He argued that the current stipends are minimal compared to the cost of living and advocated for fairness and justice in carrying all ex-agitators along in the programme, particularly those who were disarmed during the disarmament process but have not yet benefited.
The PAP aims to reintegrate ex-agitators into society by training and empowering them to become entrepreneurs or employable citizens.
The programme has recovered arms and ammunition from over 29,000 ex-militants and provided scholarships for tertiary institutions to build human capacity in the Niger Delta region.
VANGUARD
