JUST IN: Ijaw Youths Council Condemns House Of Reps 72Hours Ultimatum To Otuaro, Charges House To Focus On Security Challenges In The Country -

By Esther David

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide fired a blasting press statement on Tuesday, condemning the House of Representatives’ 72‑hour ultimatum to Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) administrator High Chief Dennis Otuaro, PhD. The legislators have threatened an arrest warrant if Otuaro fails to appear before the Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday, a move the IYC describes as “an unnecessary distraction that threatens the ongoing peace‑building and development efforts in the Niger Delta.”

In a statement signed by Ambassador (Dr) Binebai Yerin Princewill, spokesperson for IYC Worldwide, the group praised Otuaro’s record since taking the helm in March 2024. “Dr Otuaro has demonstrated commendable dedication to constant stakeholder engagement, prompt payment of stipends to beneficiaries, massive deployment of students on both international and national scholarships, and robust vocational‑training programmes that underpin the region’s stability,” Princewill said.

The IYC reminded the National Assembly that Nigeria is grappling with severe insecurity, rampant inflation and widespread hardship. “Our people are dying from banditry, kidnapping and economic distress. Rather than deploying parliamentary resources to pursue a single public official, the House should redirect its energy toward addressing the root causes of unrest, enhancing security infrastructure, and delivering tangible economic relief to Nigerians,” the statement added.

The council also highlighted that the alleged financial discrepancies cited in the Auditor‑General’s 2021 report pre‑date Otuaro’s appointment and are already being examined through proper channels. “The PAP administration has pledged full cooperation with the audit process,” Princewill noted, warning that criminalising the programme’s leadership without due process could erode public trust and reignite tensions in the region.

The IYC’s call to action is threefold: rescind the 72‑hour ultimatum and withdraw the arrest threat; engage constructively with PAP leadership to resolve audit queries transparently; and prioritise legislative measures that tackle the nation’s security challenges and economic hardships.

The group’s stance echoes earlier criticism from the Ijaw Youths Network, which faulted the House of Representatives for “dragging Otuaro to answer questions on alleged breaches that predated his appointment”  ¹. The network argued that the committee’s insistence on an arrest warrant is “curious and unnecessary.”