Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State have denied claims that they called for the dismissal of Barry Ndiomu, the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
In a statement released Tuesday, the elders described the story as false and stated that the individuals behind the call are not members of the APC Elders Forum in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the forum, John Brambaifa, a senator from Bayelsa West, said the non-existent group was sponsored to carry out the hatchet job because of the self-inflicted pain they are going through and decided to make Mr Ndiomu their target while playing the victim.
He said, “It has come to the knowledge of the members of APC in Bayelsa West Senatorial District that in the very recent past, precisely, about a fortnight ago, there is a self-seeking news item making rounds in the media, purportedly signed by amorphous APC Elders forum in Bayelsa State, calling for the immediate sack of Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu as the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
“In the said news item circulating in several social media platforms, the said anonymous forum gave some nebulous reasons as the grounds for the call for the sack of the amnesty boss.
“We wish to state unequivocally and unambiguously that there was no time APC Elders forum in Bayelsa State took a decision to call for the sack of the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, as they always form an integral part of the various fora that make up the party in the state,” Mr Brambaifa said.
He said the PAP helmsman has created far-reaching impacts in the programme and has contributed significantly to the improvement of the party.
He also expressed shock over what he described as the show of ingratitude by such a pseudo platform, as they failed to appreciate the progressive ideas initiated and implemented by the Interim Administrator to revamp the interventionist agency.
“The members of APC from Bayelsa West Senatorial District maintain that the present PAP helmsman has created far-reaching impacts in the programme and has contributed significantly to the improvement of the party in the state with the sound reform measures so far taken to reposition the programme that was gradually cascading to a moribund state.
In September of last year, former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the nomination of Mr Ndiomu, a retired Major General, as Interim Administrator of the Amnesty Programme.
On June 25, 2009, late President Umaru Yar’Adua launched an amnesty plan aimed at resolving militancy in the Niger Delta.
