Ijaw Youths Condemn Baseless Smear Campaign Against PAP Administrator Otuaro

olabiyi

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The Ijaw Youths Network (IYN) has strongly denounced what it calls a calculated smear campaign targeting Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP). The group has accused unnamed individuals and their sponsors of spreading false allegations of financial misconduct to undermine Otuaro’s credibility.

In a statement released on Friday and signed by its President, Frank Ebikabo, and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, the IYN specifically addressed claims made by the “Niger Delta Liberators and Ex-Agitators Forum (NGLEF).” The NGLEF, through a spokesperson named Odey Otunu, alleged that Otuaro had mismanaged funds, awarding contracts to inactive and unregistered companies, including approving N50 billion for a non-existent firm.

The IYN dismissed these allegations as baseless, stating that its independent investigations found no evidence to support the claims. The group emphasized that Otuaro, who assumed office in March 2024, has been focused on implementing significant reforms within the PAP, including expanding scholarship schemes, vocational training programs, and stakeholder engagements. The IYN questioned the logic behind the N50 billion claim, pointing out that such a figure is implausible given the timeline of Otuaro’s tenure and the transparency of his initiatives.

The IYN also linked the smear campaign to individuals who previously organized a protest against Otuaro at the United Nations headquarters in New York in December 2023. The group suggested that these attacks are driven by vested interests unhappy with Otuaro’s refusal to allow the PAP to become a platform for financial mismanagement.

Since taking office, Otuaro has been praised for his efforts to reform the PAP, including halting suspicious contracts and introducing measures to ensure accountability. The IYN urged stakeholders to disregard the false allegations and support Otuaro’s ongoing efforts to transform the program.

The statement from the IYN read in part: “These allegations are nothing but a desperate attempt to distract Dr. Otuaro from his mission to reposition the PAP. We call on the public to see through these lies and support the Administrator’s commendable work in expanding scholarships, vocational training, and other initiatives aimed at empowering the Niger Delta region.”

The IYN concluded by reaffirming its confidence in Otuaro’s leadership and urging those behind the smear campaign to cease their efforts, which it described as “pathetic and counterproductive.”