Itsekiri Youth Elites (IYE) Warn FG: Address Alleged Amnesty Boss’s Bias Against Itsekiri or Risk Fresh Unrest in Niger Delta

The Itsekiri Youth Elites (IYE) have raised alarm over what they described as deliberate marginalization of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality in the implementation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) under its current coordinator, Dennis Otuaru. The group accused the PAP boss of gross abuse of office, ethnic favoritism, and discriminatory allocation of amnesty benefits, warning that continued neglect by the Federal Government could spark fresh unrest and militancy in the Niger Delta region.

In a strongly worded statement signed by Comrade Eboma Tuoyo Michael(Secretary IYE) and the group’s Public Relations Officer, Comrade Toju Ogharanduku, IYE alleged that Otuaru has systematically sidelined Itsekiri ex-agitators while diverting amnesty slots to the Ijaw ethnic group. According to them, the actions of the PAP boss violate established protocols which stipulate that allocations due to the Itsekiri people must be routed through the Palace of the Olu of Warri; the traditional custodian of the Itsekiri Nation.

The group maintained that Dr. Shola Mese, former Coordinator of the Niger Delta Disarmament Programme and the Sole Itsekiri representative recommended by the Olu of Warri, remains the legitimate channel for all PAP allocations meant for the Itsekiri ethnic nationality. IYE accused Otuaru of bypassing this arrangement and instead distributing limited slots based on personal preferences, a move they described as “an affront to due process and the authority of the Olu of Warri.”

“The Itsekiri ethnic nationality has been shortchanged, oppressed, and systematically deprived of its rightful benefits under the Presidential Amnesty Programme. This abuse of office will not be tolerated any longer,” the statement read. The group further warned that if the Federal Government fails to intervene and address the injustice, the situation may degenerate into another phase of agitation and unrest in the Niger Delta.

IYE lamented that despite several petitions and documented evidence submitted against Otuaru’s alleged misconduct, the Federal Government has remained indifferent. They alleged that the Sole Administrator representing the Olu of Warri on PAP matters has repeatedly written letters to the Amnesty Office seeking recognition for proper representation, but the Amnesty boss has deliberately ignored them.

The group described Otuaru’s leadership style as tribalistic, biased, and unfit for a sensitive national position, arguing that his actions have eroded the credibility of the Amnesty Programme. They vowed to mobilize Itsekiri youths and ex-agitators for a mass protest if the anomalies are not urgently corrected, insisting that equity and fairness must prevail in the distribution of PAP benefits.

Highlighting the historical marginalization of the Itsekiri people in the Niger Delta, IYE noted that the current crisis over the Amnesty Programme is a continuation of long-standing exclusion in matters of resource control, federal representation, and land ownership. They, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser to urgently intervene, ensure transparency, and restore justice by enforcing equitable distribution of amnesty slots through the recognized Itsekiri structures to safeguard peace and stability in the region.