{"id":4605,"date":"2025-08-08T12:39:33","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T12:39:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/08\/just-in-ijaw-rights-group-blasts-itsekiris-over-attacks-on-amnesty-boss-dennis-otuaro-says-benefits-enjoyed-by-itsekiris-in-the-amnesty-programme-is-a-privilege-not-right\/"},"modified":"2025-08-08T12:39:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T12:39:33","slug":"just-in-ijaw-rights-group-blasts-itsekiris-over-attacks-on-amnesty-boss-dennis-otuaro-says-benefits-enjoyed-by-itsekiris-in-the-amnesty-programme-is-a-privilege-not-right","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/08\/just-in-ijaw-rights-group-blasts-itsekiris-over-attacks-on-amnesty-boss-dennis-otuaro-says-benefits-enjoyed-by-itsekiris-in-the-amnesty-programme-is-a-privilege-not-right\/","title":{"rendered":"JUST IN: Ijaw Rights Group Blasts Itsekiris Over Attacks On Amnesty Boss, Dennis Otuaro, Says Benefits Enjoyed By Itsekiris In The Amnesty Programme Is A Privilege Not Right"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>By Freeborn Abraye<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Says no Itsekiri PAP scholarship students abandoned<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2022Insists no true ex-agitator in Itsekiri, slots enjoyed are political<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A leading Niger Delta group, the Ijaw People&#8217;s Development Initiative, IPDI has strongly condemned the baseless, mischievous, barbaric, and misleading call to sack the administrator of the presidential Amnesty programme, Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro on non-existed allegations of bias and exclusion by misguided and disgruntled persons from Itsekiri, adding that the claims were unfounded and a mere campaign of calumny and should be regarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a statement signed by its national president Comrade Ozobo Austin said it was not true that the itsekiri ex-agitators were shortchanged, emphasising that the ongoing training programme of PAP was meant for top leaders and commanders of the programme and not for political slots bearers of the programme like Itsekiri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The IPDI boss said that the Itsekiris that outrightly rejected the Amnesty offer in the beginning of the programme were not qualified to benefit from the amnesty programme, adding that it was out of the benevolence of the Ijaw People that they were given five hundred (500) political slots much later of the proclamation of the programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He stressed that during the amnesty proclamation in 2009, the Itsekiris wrote on Vanguard and other newspapers that they did not have militant youths, and would not embrace the programme, making mockery of Ijaw people but surprisingly the same people shamelessly wrote all manners of blackmails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ozobo challenged the Itsekiris who were making false claims to tell the public where their disarmament points were, who were their leaders and commanders that embraced the programme in the earlier stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>IPDI said Itsekiri PAP beneficiaries should be grateful to Dr Otuaro and Ijaw people for the benevolence and considering them in the programme despite they were not captured in the program, maintaining that those blackmailing Dr Otuaro were enemies of Niger Delta and not true beneficiaries of the presidential Amnesty programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The group urged the general public to disregard issues of alleged exclusion, marginalization, and neglect raised by unmanned Itsekiri miscreants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The IPDI urged Itsekiri political-beneficiaries of the programme to appreciate the support they have received from both Dr. Otuaro and the Ijaw nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While calling on the public to dismiss misleading claims of exclusion from disgruntled parties, the group asserted that no Itsekiri scholarship student under the PAP programme has been neglected, aside from an illegitimate list previously submitted to Novena University by suspected Itsekiri fraudsters which was rejected by prior administrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The statement read, &#8220;no Itsekiri PAP scholarship student was abandoned, or shortchanged except the list fraudulently sent to Novena in the name of PAP by some Itsekiri miscreants without the knowledge of PAP which was turned down by the previous administrations&#8221;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Freeborn Abraye \u2022Insists no true ex-agitator in Itsekiri, slots enjoyed are political A leading&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4604,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[13],"tags":[834,1331,1332],"class_list":["post-4605","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-dennis-otuaro","tag-just-in-foremost-ijaw-rights-group-blasts-itsekiris-over-attacks-on-amnesty-boss","tag-says-benefits-enjoyed-by-itsekiris-in-the-amnesty-programme-is-a-privilege-not-right"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1760-1.jpg?fit=960%2C723&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4632,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/13\/just-in-foremost-ijaw-youth-organization-dismisses-allegations-made-against-amnesty-boss-dennis-otuaro-by-itsekiri-youths-council-says-itsekiris-never-took-part-in-niger-delta-struggle\/","url_meta":{"origin":4605,"position":0},"title":"JUST IN: Foremost Ijaw Youth Organization Dismisses Allegations Made Against Amnesty Boss, Dennis Otuaro By Itsekiri Youths Council, Says Itsekiris Never Took Part In Niger Delta Struggle","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"August 13, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin The Ijaw Youths Network (IYN) has dismissed allegations by an Itsekiri group accusing the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, of unfair treatment towards Itsekiri ex-agitators. In a statement signed on Tuesday by its National President, Frank Ebikabo, and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1732-2-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C719&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1732-2-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C719&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1732-2-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C719&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1732-2-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C719&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1732-2-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C719&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4633,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/13\/just-in-foremost-ijaw-youth-organization-dismisses-allegations-made-against-amnesty-boss-dennis-otuaro-by-itsekiri-youths-council-says-itsekiris-never-took-part-in-niger-delta-struggle-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":4605,"position":1},"title":"JUST IN: Foremost Ijaw Youth Organization Dismisses Allegations Made Against Amnesty Boss, Dennis Otuaro By Itsekiri Youths Council, Says Itsekiris Never Took Part In Niger Delta Struggle","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"August 13, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin The Ijaw Youths Network (IYN) has dismissed allegations by an Itsekiri group accusing the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, of unfair treatment towards Itsekiri ex-agitators. In a statement signed on Tuesday by its National President, Frank Ebikabo, and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1732-2-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C719&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1732-2-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C719&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1732-2-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C719&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1732-2-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C719&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1732-2-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C719&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4625,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/11\/amnesty-what-itsekiris-are-benefiting-today-is-a-privilege-not-right-says-niger-delta-group-reveals-itsekiris-never-took-part-in-niger-delta-struggle\/","url_meta":{"origin":4605,"position":2},"title":"AMNESTY: \u201cWhat Itsekiris Are Benefiting Today Is A Privilege Not Right\u201d Says Niger Delta Group, Reveals Itsekiris Never Took Part In Niger Delta Struggle","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"August 11, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Freeborn Abraye Our attention has been drawn to a pseudo and non-existent Itsekiri group under the camouflage of Warri Youth Council, WYC, to blackmail the revered and most performing administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro. We are not perturbed of their criminal agenda, knowing fully well\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/img_0467-1.jpg?fit=700%2C438&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/img_0467-1.jpg?fit=700%2C438&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/img_0467-1.jpg?fit=700%2C438&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/img_0467-1.jpg?fit=700%2C438&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2594,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2024\/06\/30\/dr-dennis-otuaro-will-optimize-the-presidential-amnesty-programme-as-he-is-a-man-familiar-with-the-niger-delta-issues___says-ijaw-progressive-youths-ambassadors\/","url_meta":{"origin":4605,"position":3},"title":"\u201cDr Dennis Otuaro Will Optimize The Presidential Amnesty Programme, As He Is A Man Familiar With The Niger Delta Issues\u201d___Says Ijaw Progressive Youths Ambassadors","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"June 30, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Freeborn Abraye The National President of the Ijaw Progressive Youth Ambassadors, comrade Ebitonmo Arepade has expressed confidence in the ability of Chief Dennis Otuaro, in taking the Presidential Amnesty Programme to the desired destination. Recall that the Presidential Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta, was established to ensure lasting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Community&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Community","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/05db3b3b-bddb-4719-8b93-fa7ecc7db2f0-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C1043&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/05db3b3b-bddb-4719-8b93-fa7ecc7db2f0-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C1043&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/05db3b3b-bddb-4719-8b93-fa7ecc7db2f0-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C1043&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/05db3b3b-bddb-4719-8b93-fa7ecc7db2f0-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C1043&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/05db3b3b-bddb-4719-8b93-fa7ecc7db2f0-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C1043&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4628,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/13\/ichc-warns-against-misrepresentation-of-presidential-amnesty-programme-asks-olu-of-itsekiri-to-submit-arms-to-delta-state-govt-if-he-is-interested-in-amnesty-reaffirms-support-for-dennis-otuaro\/","url_meta":{"origin":4605,"position":4},"title":"ICHC Warns Against Misrepresentation Of Presidential Amnesty Programme, Asks Olu Of Itsekiri To Submit Arms To Delta State Govt If He Is Interested In Amnesty, Reaffirms Support For Dennis Otuaro","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"August 13, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin The Izon Cultural Heritage Centre (ICHC) has observed, with deep concern, recent comments and tendencies emanating from the palace of the Olu of Itsekiri through one Dr. Mese who claims to be a representative of the Olu in the Amnesty programme, his unguided utterances seeks to misrepresent\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1865-2-1.jpg?fit=732%2C627&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1865-2-1.jpg?fit=732%2C627&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1865-2-1.jpg?fit=732%2C627&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1865-2-1.jpg?fit=732%2C627&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5292,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/01\/17\/amnesty-leader-of-niger-delta-rights-group-amb-yerinmene-hails-otuaro-for-the-all-inclusive-and-equitable-educational-reform-he-has-brought-to-the-pap\/","url_meta":{"origin":4605,"position":5},"title":"EDUCATION: Leader Of Niger Delta Rights Group, Amb Arerebo Yerinmene Hails Otuaro For The All Inclusive And Equitable Educational Reforms He Has Brought To The PAP","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"January 17, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Freeborn Abraye I can categorically state that the intentional educational investment of High Chief Dr. Dr. Dennis Otuaro PhD, through the PAP is all-inclusive and reflects the interests of all tribes and ethnicities within the region. Those claiming that these initiatives are designed solely for the Ijaw people are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/img_7130.jpg?fit=986%2C860&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/img_7130.jpg?fit=986%2C860&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/img_7130.jpg?fit=986%2C860&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/img_7130.jpg?fit=986%2C860&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfDfBE-1ch","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4605","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4605"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4605\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}