{"id":5772,"date":"2026-09-12T19:46:58","date_gmt":"2026-09-12T19:46:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/12\/stop-the-politics-of-exclusion___comrade-abraye-fires-ex-agitators-condemning-otuaros-impacted-communities-policy-says-the-presidential-amnesty-programme-is-for-all-niger-deltans-and-not\/"},"modified":"2026-09-12T19:46:58","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T19:46:58","slug":"stop-the-politics-of-exclusion___comrade-abraye-fires-ex-agitators-condemning-otuaros-impacted-communities-policy-says-the-presidential-amnesty-programme-is-for-all-niger-deltans-and-not","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/12\/stop-the-politics-of-exclusion___comrade-abraye-fires-ex-agitators-condemning-otuaros-impacted-communities-policy-says-the-presidential-amnesty-programme-is-for-all-niger-deltans-and-not\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cStop The Politics Of Exclusion&#8221;___Comrade Abraye Fires Ex-Agitators Condemning Otuaro&#8217;s Impacted Communities Policy, Says The Presidential Amnesty Programme Is For All Niger Deltans And Not Just The 30,000 Ex-Agitators"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>By Ebiowei Gabriel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Amnesty Programme Must Not Become A Platform For Entitlement, Exclusion And Selfishness\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Niger Delta Advocates For Peace, Development And Economic Justice (NDAPDEJ) has rejected, in the strongest possible terms, the divisive narrative seeking to classify some beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme as \u201coriginal delegates\u201d while branding others who are now gaining access to opportunities under the programme as \u201cfake beneficiaries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the National Coordinator of NDAPDEJ, Comrade Freeborn Abraye, such language is not only unnecessarily divisive but also represents a dangerous attempt to turn a national intervention programme into the private preserve of a particular group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere is no superior Niger Deltan and there is no inferior Niger Deltan. There should be no politics of \u2018original\u2019 and \u2018fake\u2019 beneficiaries. We are all Niger Deltans, and every Niger Deltan deserves equal opportunity to participate in programmes designed to promote peace, development, education, skills acquisition and economic empowerment in the region,\u201d Abraye declared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He stressed that the fact that a person was among the approximately 30,000 beneficiaries initially captured when the Presidential Amnesty Programme commenced in 2009 does not, in itself, confer permanent ownership of the programme or make that person more Niger Deltan than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Equally, he argued, Niger Deltans accessing educational opportunities, vocational training, empowerment initiatives and other interventions under Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro-led administration should not be stigmatized simply because they were not part of those captured at the early stage of the programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>THE AMNESTY PROGRAMME IS NOT A PRIVATE INHERITANCE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NDAPDEJ maintains that the Presidential Amnesty Programme should never be reduced to an entitlement system where one group believes it has acquired perpetual ownership over opportunities created with public resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The programme was established as a peace-building and development intervention in the Niger Delta. Its long-term relevance, therefore, must be measured by its ability to contribute to human capital development, economic empowerment, peace and stability across the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLet us stop this dangerous entitlement mentality. Being among the initial beneficiaries does not give anybody the right to shut the door of the programme against the next generation of Niger Deltans,\u201d Abraye said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He added:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe question we should be asking is not who came first. The question should rather be: How can the programme create more opportunities, train more young Niger Deltans, empower more families and contribute more effectively to sustainable development in the Niger Delta?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>NDAPDEJ COMMENDS OTUARO\u2019S IMPACTED COMMUNITIES APPROACH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NDAPDEJ specifically commended Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro for pursuing what the organization describes as an \u201cImpacted Communities Policy\u201d (ICP) aimed at widening the reach of intervention opportunities to Niger Delta communities under the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Abraye argued that bringing more Niger Deltans into the education, vocational training and empowerment programmes should be viewed as an expansion of opportunity rather than a threat to existing beneficiaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf a young Niger Deltan who previously had no access to opportunity in the programme is given education, vocational training or economic empowerment, why should another Niger Deltan be angry? Why should we call that person fake?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe success of the Amnesty Programme should be measured by how many lives it can positively transform, not by how many people we can keep outside its doors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to NDAPDEJ, policies that broaden participation in the programme can help ensure that the benefits of peace are translated into tangible opportunities for communities and younger generations in the Niger Delta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>ENOUGH OF THE POLITICS OF EXCLUSION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Comrade Abraye further warned against what he described as a \u201cpolitics of exclusion, selfish entitlement and artificial superiority\u201d within Niger Delta discourse.<br>He said Niger Deltans must resist attempts to create unnecessary divisions between communities and beneficiaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNobody has a monopoly over Niger Delta identity. Nobody has the constitutional or moral authority to declare another Niger Deltan fake simply because that person is now benefiting from an intervention programme that was birthed through the collective efforts of all&#8221;. He stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He challenged those criticizing the expansion of opportunities under Otuaro&#8217;s administration to explain why they would oppose educational reforms, vocational training and empowerment opportunities reaching additional Niger Delta youths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf the policy is transparent, lawful and properly administered, then expanding opportunity should be celebrated. We cannot demand development for ourselves while simultaneously trying to deny development opportunities to our brothers and sisters,\u201d Abraye declared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>SUPPORT REFORMS THAT EXPAND OPPORTUNITY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NDAPDEJ therefore called on Niger Delta stakeholders, youth organizations, community leaders and beneficiaries to support initiatives capable of expanding the reach and developmental impact of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe must move away from the politics of scarcity and embrace the politics of expansion. The answer to more Niger Deltans needing opportunities is not exclusion; it is creating more opportunities,\u201d Abraye said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He concluded:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro should be encouraged to continue policies that expand education, skills acquisition and economic empowerment across the Niger Delta. The Amnesty Programme belongs to all Niger Deltans not to a private club of individuals. No beneficiary is more Niger Deltan than the other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Signed:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Comrade Freeborn Abraye<br>National Coordinator<br>Niger Delta Advocates For Peace, Development And Economic Justice (NDAPDEJ).<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Ebiowei Gabriel \u201cThe Amnesty Programme Must Not Become A Platform For Entitlement, Exclusion And&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5771,"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_feature_clip_id":0,"_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":[1959,1960],"class_list":["post-5772","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-stop-the-politics-of-exclusion___comrade-abraye-fires-ex-agitators-condemning-otuaros-impacted-communities-policy","tag-says-the-presidential-amnesty-programme-is-for-all-niger-deltans-and-not-just-the-30"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3550,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/03\/19\/presidential-amnesty-office-cautions-niger-delta-ex-agitators-against-taking-part-in-current-rivers-states-saga\/","url_meta":{"origin":5772,"position":0},"title":"Presidential Amnesty Office Cautions Niger Delta Ex-Agitators Against Taking Part In Current Rivers State\u2019s Saga","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"March 19, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Freeborn Abraye The Presidential Amnesty Programme Administrator is advising ex-agitators under the PAP to conduct themselves responsibly in the wake of the constitutional development in Rivers State. The PAP Office urges all ex-agitators and beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme to resist any attempt and overtures by groups or\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\/02\/img_4127-1-1.webp?fit=489%2C520&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5792,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/24\/your-cheap-blackmails-propaganda-cannot-defeat-the-innovative-transformative-reforms-made-by-dr-dennis-brutu-otuaro-in-the-presidential-amnesty-programme___comrade-freeborn-abraye\/","url_meta":{"origin":5772,"position":1},"title":"\u201cYour Cheap Blackmails, Propaganda Cannot Defeat Dr. Dennis Otuaro\u2019s Innovative, Transformative Reforms In The Presidential Amnesty Programme\u201d___Comrade Freeborn Abraye Tells Boyloaf","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"September 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin The Niger Delta Advocates For Peace, Development And Economic Justice (NDAPDEJ) has fired back at what it describes as a coordinated campaign of political attacks, blackmail and propaganda allegedly targeted at the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro, warning those behind 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\/2026\/09\/img_4385.jpg?fit=1165%2C514&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/img_4385.jpg?fit=1165%2C514&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/img_4385.jpg?fit=1165%2C514&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/img_4385.jpg?fit=1165%2C514&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/img_4385.jpg?fit=1165%2C514&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2738,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2024\/07\/10\/online-news-platform-daybreak-news-retracts-report-alleging-neglect-of-group-of-ex-agitators-by-amnesty-boss-otuaro-says-report-is-untrue\/","url_meta":{"origin":5772,"position":2},"title":"Online News Platform, \u201cDaybreak News\u201d Retracts Publication Alleging Neglect Of Group Of Ex-Agitators By Amnesty Boss, Otuaro, Says The Publication Is untrue, Baseless","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 10, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Freeborn Abraye A publication issued by a faceless group who claims to be Ex Niger Delta Agitators, threatening to protest against the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, High Chief Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro, have been retracted. The said publication was retracted by the Online News Platform, Daybreak.ng, on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Crime&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Crime","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/crime\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/img_3816-3-1.png?fit=1080%2C761&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/img_3816-3-1.png?fit=1080%2C761&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/img_3816-3-1.png?fit=1080%2C761&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/img_3816-3-1.png?fit=1080%2C761&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/img_3816-3-1.png?fit=1080%2C761&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4592,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/07\/amnesty-edo-based-ex-niger-delta-agitators-commends-dr-otuaro-on-successful-leadership-training-urges-other-ex-agitators-stakeholders-to-support-him\/","url_meta":{"origin":5772,"position":3},"title":"AMNESTY: Edo Based Ex-Niger Delta Agitators Commends Dr. Otuaro On Successful Leadership Training, Urges Other Ex-Agitators, Stakeholders To Support Him","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"August 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Freeborn Abraye BENIN CITY \u2013 THE leadership of Niger Delta Ex-militant Forum Edo State chapter on Wednesday commended the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Chief Dennis Otuaro on his sustaining of the amnesty programme and continuous training of former militants. A statement jointly signed by the National\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_1728-1.jpg?fit=693%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1728-1.jpg?fit=693%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1728-1.jpg?fit=693%2C960&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3525,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/02\/27\/pap-enough-is-enough-says-niger-delta-ex-agitators-as-they-vows-to-protect-otuaro-and-his-mandate-to-reform-the-amnesty-programme\/","url_meta":{"origin":5772,"position":4},"title":"PAP: \u201cEnough Is Enough\u201d Says Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, As They Vows To Protect Otuaro And His Mandate To Reform The Amnesty Programme","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"February 27, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Freeborn Abraye A group of ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, under the umbrella body of the Coalition of Phase 1 Ex-Militant Leaders, has sent a strong message of warning to certain unguided elements in the region to desist from further incessant attacks against the Administrator of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3480,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/02\/17\/ogbia-brothers-for-good-governance-obgg-refutes-allegations-made-by-nicholas-nathaniel-against-dennis-otuaro-says-nicholas-is-not-an-ex-agitator-urges-niger-deltans-to-disregard-his-baseless-alleg\/","url_meta":{"origin":5772,"position":5},"title":"Ogbia Brothers For Good Governance, OBGG, Refutes Allegations Made By Nicholas Nathaniel Against Dennis Otuaro, Says Nicholas Is Not An Ex-Agitator, Urges Niger Deltans To Disregard His Baseless Allegations","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"February 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Freeborn Abraye The Ogbia Brothers for Good Governance (OBGG), under the leadership of Amb. Azibagiri Itabai, categorically refutes the unfounded allegations made by Nicholas Nathaniel regarding the Presidential Amnesty Programme's treatment of beneficiaries from Ogbia Local Government Area. While we normally would not engage in public disputes over such\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\/02\/img_3951-6-1.webp?fit=1200%2C818&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_3951-6-1.webp?fit=1200%2C818&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_3951-6-1.webp?fit=1200%2C818&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_3951-6-1.webp?fit=1200%2C818&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_3951-6-1.webp?fit=1200%2C818&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfDfBE-1v6","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/img_4156.jpg?fit=1284%2C1077&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5772","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=5772"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5772\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5771"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}