A Yoruba socio-cultural group, The Afenifere Progressives, has called for the restructuring of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) to ensure equitable treatment of all oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta.
The group made the call in a statement jointly signed by its Coordinator, Michael Omotehinse and Secretary, Modupe Adedayo, on Thursday in Akure.
It expressed concern over what it described as inadequate representation of oil-producing communities in Ondo State in the activities and benefits of the programme.
The group said there was a need for transparency and fairness in the administration of the programme, particularly in the distribution of scholarships and other opportunities.
It maintained that oil-producing communities in Ondo State should enjoy equal access to the benefits of the programme, irrespective of their ethnic or linguistic backgrounds.
The organisation disclosed plans to submit petition to President Bola Tinubu, prominent Afenifere leaders, including Bisi Akande and Pius Akinyelure, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi II, the National Assembly and other relevant stakeholders.
According to the group, the petition will seek a comprehensive review of the programme’s leadership, scholarship allocations, beneficiary records and representation of non-Ijaw-speaking communities.
It also called for a review of the current leadership of the programme, including the position of its administrator, Dennis Otuaro.
The group further announced plans to organise a peaceful protest at the PAP office in Abuja to draw attention to its concerns if the Federal Government failed to address the issues raised.
“Let me use this opportunity to reaffirm our support for Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the need for fairness, inclusiveness and equal opportunities for all Nigerians,” it said.
The organisation urged Yoruba leaders, traditional rulers, political stakeholders and civil society groups to intervene in addressing the concerns.
It said timely intervention by the Federal Government would help strengthen confidence in the programme and sustain peace in the Niger Delta.