By Binebai Princewill

Interim Administrator, Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dikio (Rtd) have stated that he is committed and more  interested in the Niger Delta recovery plan and the growth of the region’s blue economy. The Liberator Newspapers Worldwide can report.

The Amnesty boss made the remark earlier today in Okerenkoko Federated  community, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State on his fact finding mission to the community. 

While addressing series of issues tabled by the people of Okerenkoko Federated Community during the visit, Dikio asserted that he recognised Okerenkoko Federated Community and her indigenes as critical stakeholders in the Amnesty Programme. 

Speaking further, Dikio Milland (Rtd) noted that while the Amnesty Programme under his watch is working hard to ensure that it come out strong, he stressed that PAP under him has approved scholarship for Niger Deltans including a large number of Okerenkoko indigenes, adding that while many are already in the system others are grappling with the issue of documentation, maintaining that once the office is done with the documentation process, they are sure of benefiting. 

Nevertheless, Milland  stated that the Amnesty Programme under his watch is not owing any student, adding that all students have been paid fully, stressing that whoever that is complaining otherwise must have come into the programme through the back door. 

Dikio had particularly challenged such students to come out with the scholarship award letters to the office to see.

In his words: “It is with great pleasure that I stand before you, it is a great pleasure to be in Okerenkoko community today, i have been here before and i promised back then that i will come back. 

“We are here primarily on a fact finding mission, most of the things you have said have been noted, when we go back we will put things in proper perspective. Amnesty was originally,  meant for 30 thousand Ex-agitators.

“The  Amnesty programme is in three phases, Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration. I am so interested in the Niger Delta recovery plan. We will take your requests to the appropriate agencies when i return back. I am a Niger Deltan, your brother from Mbiama.

“Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)  were created solely for the infrastructural development of the Niger Delta region. The ministry of environment is also key in our blue economy and the Niger Delta recovery plan. 

“Okerenkoko has a lot of people approved for scholarship, while some have scaled through others are facing documentation issues, when that is done, they have nothing to worry. When given the opportunity, don’t go and blow guy, be serious with your studies.

“I am more interested in skill acquisition, we are a water people hence we must dominate what we call the blue economy. 

“Everybody in Niger Delta region must join hands in the growth and development of the Nigeria Maritime University (NMU), Okerenkoko to dominate the maritime economy of Nigeria, Africa and the World at large. 

“We are going to encourage you people to go into fishing trawling business. 

“On skill acquisition centre, we have five centres. My job is to ensure that all the five centres are completed and should be in use.

“My administration is not owing students in the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme schooling, anyone claiming that we are owing them must have come through the back door. I challenge all those saying that we are owing them to come with their award letters.”

Earlier, Hon. (Dr) Shedrack Otuaro, Chairman of Okerenkoko Federated Community had in his welcome address appreciated Dikio for the visit to the community. 

The address reads below: “A Welcome Address presented By Hon. Dr. Shedrack Otuaro, Chairman Of Okerenkoko Federated Community In Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area Of Delta State On Monday 13th Of December 2021 On The Occasion Of PAP Interim Administrator’s Visit To Okerenkoko 

Col. Milland Dixion Dikio (rtd), Interim Administrator, 

Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

His Royal Majesty, Oboro Gbaraun, Aketekpe, Agadagba, 

Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom. 

Political Leaders Of Gbaramatu Kingdom Here Present. 

Clergymen Here Present 

Respected Chiefs Of Gbaramatu Kingdom. 

All Protocols Duely And Well Observed. 

On behalf of the peace loving and hospitable people of Okerenkoko Federated Community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, i welcome you to this historic and wonderful community. 

It is on this premise that we want to once again thank and appreciate you and your high powered delegation from the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) for deeming it feat and necessary to visit Okerenkoko Federated Community for partnership and to brainstorm on the way forward.

Permanent site of Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko

Today, as a community, we want to state that we are so happy for your visit which is no doubt an historic moment for us that will continue to speak volume about your inate leadership capacity. 

While we commend you for redefining the Presidential Amnesty Programme back to track under your watch, Okerenkoko Federated Community is well aware of all the progressive and positive innovative ideas that you are introducing into the programme to make it more viable and stronger for Niger Deltans. It is no longer a news that what is today known as the Presidential Amnesty Programme for Niger Deltans is due to the sacrifices of many Niger Deltans who laid down their lives during the 2009 bombardment.

Our community, Okerenkoko played a major role in the establishment of the Amnesty Programme in 2009, our case is a peculiar one because Okerenkoko did not only lost lives during the bombardment but the community was levelled to the ground, houses destroyed and life becomes hellish and unbearable for our people for years. Even up till now, we are yet to fully recover from the devastating bombardment.

Today, this is exactly 12 years after the creation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) for Niger Deltans, while Okerenkoko Federated Community have a lot of reservation on how the programme has been handled  by others so far, our community is yet to benefit from the programme despite contributing so much for the establishment of PAP. 

It is inarguably a fact that the establishment of PAP will be incomplete without the mention of Okerenkoko Federated Community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

Sir, it is on such background that we make the following requests to better the lots of our people. 

Scholarship For Our People: Education has been described as the bedrock of all development, hence it is our appeal that the Amnesty Programme under your command make special arrangement for scholarship slots to be given to our indigenes both home and abroad to study. Education in itself is a light and a potential weapon for progress. 

Intervention Projects For The Nigeria Maritime University (NMU), Okerenkoko: It is no longer a news that the Nigeria Maritime University, (NMU) is having its permanent site in our community. It is very disturbing that since the establishment of the NMU, there have been no reasonable projects in the permanent site to create a conducive learning environment for the students, it will be nice if you can donate lecture auditorium for the institution.

Empowerment Scheme For Widows/Women That Lost Their Husbands During The Struggle: We appeal to you that a credit empowerment scheme be given to the women/widows who lost their husbands during the invasion. It will be nice if a programme is initiated by you to take care and accommodate these women for posterity sake. 

Consideration Of Okerenkoko Indigenes For Jobs: We also appeal to your esteemed personality that you consider sons and daughters of Okerenkoko Federated Community for contract jobs in the Amnesty Office to enable us have a sense of belonging in the programme too as well as slots for our Indigenes. 

Once again, we want to thank you for this auspicious visit , believing that you will look into our requests critically and address them as they are. 

We are not in doubt on your inate leadership capacity to positively deal with issues of such even as we look forward to a more smooth and cordial relationship with you as a community. Be rest assured of our symbiotic relationship whenever the need arises. 

Thanks and may God continue to bless you. 

We will continue to owe you in high esteem for this visit – PRO Dekawei 

While addressing the press, Amb. John Dekawei, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Okerenkoko Federated Community stated that the people of the community will owe the Amnesty boss in high esteem for the visit. 

He particularly called on Dikio to do whatever he can positively for the growth and development of the community.

Similarly, High Chief P. T Heavens (JP), former regent of Gbaramatu Kingdom and Comr. Shadrach Ebikeme, President Gbaramatu Youth Council had all presented serious cases regarding inclusion of the various cadres of leadership in Gbaramatu Kingdom from the scheme of things. 

The Amnesty boss was led to Okereknoko Federated Community,  Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State by Rt. Hon. Julius Pondi, member representing Burutu Federal Constituency, House of Representatives.

High point of the fact finding mission was the visit of Col. Milland Dikio (Rtd), interim administrator of the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) to the permanent site of the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko. 

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