“Gbaramatu Kingdom Does Not Need The Presidential Amnesty Programme Allocations To Fund Our Festivals”___Comrade Abraye Fires Back At Daniel Perela Ezekiel, Describes Allegations Against Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro As False, Baseless, Politically Motivated

By Ebiowei Gabriel

Warri, Delta State____The National Coordinator of the Niger Delta Advocates For Peace, Development And Economic Justice (NDAPDEJ), Comrade Freeborn Abraye, has dismissed as false, baseless and politically motivated the allegations attributed to Daniel Perela Ezekiel suggesting that the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro, is using allocations of the Amnesty Office to finance festivals in Gbaramatu Kingdom.

Abraye described the allegation as another desperate attempt to drag the name of Dr. Otuaro and the Presidential Amnesty Programme into matters that have absolutely nothing to do with the funding or administration of the Programme.

According to him, Gbaramatu Kingdom does not need a dime from the allocations of the Presidential Amnesty Programme to organise or celebrate its traditional festivals.

“Let it be stated clearly and without ambiguity: Gbaramatu Kingdom does not depend on the Presidential Amnesty Programme to fund its festivals. We have been celebrating our culture, traditions and heritage from time immemorial, long before Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro became Administrator of PAP.

“Therefore, any attempt to create the impression that Gbaramatu Kingdom suddenly began celebrating festivals because of PAP allocations is not only historically inaccurate but also an insult to the rich cultural heritage, dignity and self-sufficiency of our people.”

Abraye stressed that Gbaramatu Kingdom is a historically significant and culturally endowed kingdom whose traditional institutions, communities, sons and daughters have, over generations, contributed resources and personal sacrifices towards sustaining its festivals and cultural activities.

He challenged anyone making allegations of diversion or misuse of PAP funds to produce verifiable documentary evidence, rather than relying on insinuations, conjecture and political rhetoric.

“If Daniel Perela Ezekiel has evidence that public funds belonging to the Presidential Amnesty Programme were diverted to finance festivals in Gbaramatu Kingdom, let him publish the evidence. Let him name the transaction, identify the appropriation, produce the payment records and allow Nigerians to examine the facts.

“But he should stop manufacturing narratives and presenting allegations as established facts. Public discourse must not become a marketplace where unsubstantiated accusations are manufactured, circulated and repeated until people begin to mistake them for truth.”

The NDAPDEJ National Coordinator further argued that there is a fundamental difference between legitimate cultural activities undertaken by a kingdom and the statutory programmes of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

He maintained that Gbaramatu Kingdom’s cultural festivals should not be deliberately conflated with PAP’s official responsibilities merely to create a politically convenient narrative against the current PAP administration.

“DON’T DRAG GBARAMATU’S CULTURAL HERITAGE INTO POLITICAL BLACKMAIL”

Abraye warned those seeking to weaponise Gbaramatu’s festivals for political purposes to desist, insisting that the cultural heritage of the kingdom is bigger than the political calculations of individuals.

“Our people have been celebrating their heritage for generations. Our festivals existed long before the Presidential Amnesty Programme was declared, and will continue to exist irrespective of who occupies the office of PAP Administrator of the programme tomorrow.

“So nobody should attempt to use our festivals as ammunition for political blackmail against Dr. Dennis Otuaro or anybody else.”

He described Gbaramatu Kingdom as “a blessed kingdom with resilient, resourceful and industrious people”, stressing that its cultural celebrations are expressions of identity, tradition and communal pride, not evidence of dependence on PAP.

Abraye also cautioned against what he described as the growing tendency to attach every development, cultural activity or community event in the Niger Delta to the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

“Not everything that happens in the Niger Delta is funded by PAP. Not every community gathering is a PAP project. Not every festival is a PAP programme. And certainly, not every cultural celebration should be turned into a political scandal simply because someone wants to attack the Administrator of PAP, Dr. Dennis Otuaro. There must be a limit to political desperation.”

PAP SHOULD BE JUDGED BY ITS RECORD, NOT BY RUMOURS

The NDAPDEJ leader urged Nigerians and stakeholders in the Niger Delta to assess the Presidential Amnesty Programme on the basis of its official mandate, documented programmes, measurable outcomes and verifiable records, rather than allegations circulating without supporting evidence.

He said criticism is legitimate in a democracy, but insisted that responsible criticism must be anchored on facts.

“Nobody is above scrutiny. Dr. Dennis Otuaro is not above scrutiny. PAP is not above scrutiny. But scrutiny is not the same thing as reckless accusation. Democracy permits criticism, but democracy does not give anyone a licence to manufacture facts.”

Abraye further maintained that where genuine concerns exist about the expenditure of public funds, the appropriate response is to demand auditable records, official explanations and lawful investigations, rather than making sweeping accusations against individuals or entire kingdom.

“GBARAMATU WILL NOT BE USED AS A PAWN”

The NDAPDEJ National Coordinator declared that the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom will not allow anyone to use Gbaramatu as a political pawn in what he described as attempts to discredit Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro’s leadership of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP.

“We will defend the truth wherever we find it. We will defend our dear Kingdom Gbaramatu against false narratives.

“We will not sit quietly while anybody attempts to rewrite the history of our kingdom or portray our people as beggars who needs or depends on the PAP allocations to celebrate our own cultural heritage.”

Abraye concluded by challenging Daniel Perela Ezekiel to come forward with evidence to prove that PAP allocations are being used to fund Gbaramatu festivals.

“Gbaramatu Kingdom is blessed. Our people are capable. Our traditions are older than today’s political arguments. Our festivals belong to our people, so we will not allow Daniel Ezekiel to attempt to appropriate them for political propaganda.

“If there is evidence, bring it forward. If there is none, then the politics of insinuation must stop.”

Signed:

Comrade Freeborn Abraye
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Advocates For Peace, Development And Economic Justice (NDAPDEJ).

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