THE DR. DENNIS OTUARO VOLUNTEER MEDIA TEAM FIRES BACK AT THE PERPETRATORS OF THE PROPOSED NOVEMBER 2 ABUJA PAP PROTEST; URGING THEM TO PUT DOWN THE PLACARDS AND PICK UP THE FACTS

The Dr. Dennis Otuaro Volunteer Media Team has taken note of a publication titled “Ex-Militants Mobilise for November 2 Abuja Protest, Issue Four Demands to Otuaro Over PAP Crisis.”

In the interest of accuracy, fairness, and public enlightenment, we consider it necessary to address the issues raised in the publication and provide the relevant context. Significantly, the publication's own editorial note acknowledges that the allegations remain unverified and that no response was obtained from the management of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

These admissions are important. Public discourse on an institution as sensitive as the PAP must be guided by facts, verifiable records, and responsible engagement—not unsubstantiated allegations or headlines that risk creating an impression unsupported by the available evidence.

Against this backdrop, the Dr. Dennis Otuaro Volunteer Media Team offers the following clarifications.

1. THE “PAP CRISIS” CHARACTERISATION: AN ALLEGATION IS NOT A FINDING

The Dr. Dennis Otuaro Volunteer Media Team categorically rejects the characterisation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme as being in a state of crisis.

The publication itself acknowledges that it has not established that PAP management refused to address any complaint or that the allegations contained in the protest notice have been substantiated. A headline that declares a crisis while the accompanying report fails to establish its existence raises legitimate questions about accuracy and editorial balance.

In law, an allegation is not a finding, just as an accusation does not, by itself, establish wrongdoing.

The PAP's operations and the performance of its Administrator should therefore be assessed against verifiable evidence, documented complaints, and the actual state of affairs—not conclusions drawn from untested claims.

Public accountability is essential, but it must be accompanied by a corresponding commitment to accuracy.

2. THE ALLEGED “ESCALATION” AND EARLIER PETITIONS: WHAT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN ESTABLISHED?

The Team wishes to clarify that the reported petitions addressed to the FCT Minister, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives establish only that correspondence was reportedly submitted to those offices.

The publication itself admits that it remains unclear whether the officials responded to the petitions or initiated any inquiry into the allegations.

The distinction is fundamental: submitting a petition is not the same as proving its contents. Allegations contained in a petition must still be examined, tested, and substantiated before any conclusion can reasonably be drawn.

Consequently, we reject the suggestion that the announcement of a proposed protest, following the submission of petitions, necessarily establishes administrative failure on the part of the PAP.

The appropriate course is to establish the facts, ascertain the status of the complaints, and pursue the available administrative remedies where necessary.

Escalation should not become a substitute for verification, and public pressure should not be mistaken for proof.

3. FIRST DEMAND: THE ₦65,000 MONTHLY STIPEND

The Team firmly rejects any suggestion that there has been a general failure by the PAP to pay beneficiaries their monthly stipends.

Notably, the publication acknowledges that the protest notice contains no verified list of affected beneficiaries, no payment schedule, and no evidence establishing the number of persons allegedly owed.

Without these particulars, it is difficult to determine the scope of the complaint, identify the affected beneficiaries, or establish whether the alleged non-payment reflects a general administrative problem or individual account and verification issues.

The record also deserves consideration.

From his first month in office, Dr. Otuaro's administration announced the clearance of ₦65,000 monthly stipends for March 2024.

Subsequently, beneficiary groups, including graduates, have identified the prompt payment of monthly stipends among the gains recorded under his administration.

These developments should form part of any balanced assessment of stipend administration under the current leadership.

Where an individual beneficiary encounters a genuine payment difficulty arising from account discrepancies, verification issues, or other administrative concerns, the appropriate first step is to utilise the PAP's established complaint channels and provide the necessary documentation.

The Team encourages every affected beneficiary with a legitimate grievance to come forward with verifiable particulars so that the matter can be properly investigated and addressed.

The objective should be to resolve genuine payment difficulties, not to generalise unverified individual complaints into an established system-wide failure.

4. SECOND DEMAND: “OUTSTANDING ARREARS” AND THE NEED FOR DOCUMENTARY PROOF

The Dr. Dennis Otuaro Volunteer Media Team maintains that claims for outstanding arrears must be supported by adequate documentary evidence.

The publication concedes that the protest notice does not specify the period covered by the alleged arrears, the number of claimants involved, or the total amount being demanded. It further acknowledges that the newspaper did not independently verify any figure.

These omissions are significant because a claim for money must be sufficiently particularised before its validity and appropriate resolution can be determined.

In law, the principle that he who asserts must prove remains fundamental. A demand for payment cannot be properly evaluated without establishing the identities of the claimants, the basis of their entitlements, the relevant periods, and the amounts allegedly outstanding.

The Team therefore invites the coalition to submit properly documented claims for examination.

Where an entitlement is established through the relevant records, the appropriate administrative processes can be engaged to facilitate its resolution.

Verified entitlements deserve prompt attention; unparticularised demands, however, cannot substitute for evidence.

The Team remains committed to the fair consideration of legitimate claims, provided they are presented through channels that permit proper verification and resolution.

5. THIRD DEMAND: “CAMP SLOTS” AND THE IMPORTANCE OF RELIABLE BENEFICIARY RECORDS

The Team notes that the coalition has not identified any specific camp allegedly affected by the removal of slots, the number of slots in dispute, or the administrative decision it seeks to challenge.

Without these particulars, the precise nature and extent of the complaint remain unclear.

Slot allocations must be guided by reliable beneficiary records and appropriate administrative processes. It is relevant to recall that Dr.

Otuaro inherited a programme in which the reliability and completeness of beneficiary records required attention.

In response, his administration initiated data reforms and reportedly verified approximately 12,500 beneficiary records.

Such reforms are necessary for a programme whose effectiveness depends on accurate identification, proper documentation, and the fair administration of benefits and opportunities.

A programme of this magnitude cannot be administered sustainably on the basis of unverified figures. Reliable records are essential to ensuring that legitimate beneficiaries are identified and that available opportunities are allocated through a credible process.

Equally important is the administration's engagement with camp leaders and beneficiaries across Phases 1, 2, and 3. Dr.

Otuaro has assured stakeholders that no one will be left out of the ongoing Leadership Training Programme.

The Team therefore encourages any camp leader with a specific and documented grievance concerning slot allocation to submit the complaint formally for appropriate consideration.

The way forward is not to abandon the need for verification, but to ensure that every legitimate beneficiary is accurately documented and fairly considered.

6. FOURTH DEMAND: ALLEGATIONS OF INTIMIDATION AND HARASSMENT

The Dr. Dennis Otuaro Volunteer Media Team categorically denies that Dr.

Otuaro has instituted, authorised, or knowingly endorsed any policy of intimidation or harassment against PAP beneficiaries.

Dr. Otuaro's background is also relevant to understanding his engagement with the people he serves.

A Phase 3 leader has described him as “a product of the struggle,” underscoring his familiarity with the experiences and grievances of the Niger Delta people.

His administration's position, therefore, is that genuine complaints should be heard and addressed through appropriate channels, rather than dismissed or left unresolved.

At the same time, allegations of intimidation or harassment must be supported by particulars capable of investigation. The publication itself acknowledges that the existence of a complaint does not, without more, establish that an offence has occurred or identify the person responsible.

Where any beneficiary has been threatened, intimidated, or otherwise unlawfully treated, the Nigeria Police Force and the courts remain appropriate avenues for seeking redress, depending on the circumstances. The Team supports any lawful investigation into a properly reported incident.

However, the need to investigate a complaint must be distinguished from the assumption that the allegation has already been established.

Accountability and fairness are not opposing principles. Both require that allegations be taken seriously, investigated impartially, and determined on the strength of the available evidence.

The Team accordingly urges anyone with a genuine complaint to provide the relevant details and cooperate with the appropriate authorities.

7. THE SEVEN-DAY ULTIMATUM: DIALOGUE MUST NOT BE CONFUSED WITH COERCION

The Team wishes to clarify that a seven-day ultimatum, regardless of how it is presented, is not in itself a substitute for established legal or administrative procedures.

The publication reports that the coalition's solicitors subsequently clarified that the purpose of the notice was to obtain an acknowledgment. Nevertheless, the notice was issued against the backdrop of a threatened protest, raising questions about the approach adopted to secure administrative engagement.

The Team also notes the reported withdrawal of Petition No. 57C/2024 following assurances of administrative resolution.

That development suggests that administrative engagement was available and had previously been considered a viable means of addressing the concerns raised.

However, the publication concedes that it cannot establish the precise terms of those assurances or the subsequent history of the petition.

These limitations make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of the earlier engagement or the circumstances that led to the proposed protest.

The Team therefore considers it more constructive to return to a documented process of dialogue, in which complaints are clearly stated, relevant records are examined, and appropriate responses are provided.

Where administrative remedies remain available, they should be pursued in good faith. Where a dispute requires judicial determination, the courts remain available to the parties.

A demand for acknowledgment should open the door to dialogue, not close it behind an ultimatum.

8. BVN DISCREPANCIES, BENEFICIARY RECORDS, AND ACCESS TO TRAINING

The Team wishes to emphasise that the issues surrounding Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), discrepancies in beneficiary records, and access to training opportunities are among the administrative challenges Dr. Otuaro identified and undertook to address.

In July 2024, shortly after assuming office, Dr. Otuaro pledged to tackle the problem of multiple BVNs, which had contributed to payment difficulties for some beneficiaries.

Rather than treating the matter as an issue to be ignored, his administration approached it as a data-integrity challenge requiring systematic attention. The administration subsequently reported progress in improving the reliability of beneficiary records within the first few months of his appointment.

These interventions are important because accurate records are fundamental to effective payment administration, beneficiary verification, and the fair distribution of opportunities.

The PAP also operates a call centre designed to provide an accessible channel for beneficiary complaints and enquiries. In 2024, the centre reportedly received 23,813 calls and documented 420 issues for resolution.

These figures provide an indication of the scale of engagement through the call centre and the administration's efforts to establish a structured mechanism for receiving and documenting complaints.

The existence of such a mechanism does not mean that every complaint has necessarily been resolved. It does, however, provide an established channel through which beneficiaries can report difficulties and seek administrative attention.

Access to Training Opportunities

On the question of training access, the Team maintains that the administration has continued to create opportunities for beneficiaries across the programme.

Claims that particular categories of ex-agitators have been excluded have also attracted responses from beneficiary representatives. In particular, the Phase 2 national chairman publicly dismissed as false the allegation that first-phase ex-agitators had been excluded from training programmes.

This position should be considered alongside the administration's ongoing leadership training and capacity-building initiatives across the three phases.

The Team encourages beneficiaries who believe they have been wrongly excluded from any programme to present their cases with the relevant particulars for verification.

The goal must be to identify and resolve genuine gaps in access, not to allow unresolved questions to overshadow efforts aimed at improving the programme.

9. “QUESTIONS FACING OTUARO”: THE NEED FOR A FAIR AND EVIDENCE-BASED ASSESSMENT

The Team considers it necessary to challenge the manner in which the publication frames the questions allegedly facing Dr. Otuaro.

A public officer is entitled to a fair assessment of official conduct, just as any person making an allegation must be prepared to substantiate it with credible evidence.

The presumption of regularity may be relevant when considering official administrative acts, subject to the applicable law and the circumstances of each case. It does not exempt a public officer from accountability, nor does it relieve an aggrieved party of the obligation to provide evidence in support of a disputed claim.

The issue, therefore, is not whether the Administrator should answer legitimate questions. Public accountability remains essential.

Rather, the issue is whether the allegations have been sufficiently particularised to permit a meaningful and fair response.

The publication itself acknowledges that the coalition could strengthen its position by providing names, dates, figures, and supporting documents.

Such particulars would enable the administration to identify the affected persons, examine the relevant records, determine the nature of the complaints, and take appropriate action where necessary. Accountability is strengthened by evidence, not weakened by it.

The Team therefore calls on the coalition to present its claims in a form that allows them to be properly investigated and resolved.

10. THE RECORD THE PUBLICATION OMITTED: REFORMS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

In assessing the performance of the Presidential Amnesty Programme under Dr. Otuaro, the Team believes that a balanced account must go beyond the allegations contained in the protest notice.

The publication gives considerable attention to the proposed demonstration and the grievances advanced by the coalition but does not adequately address several initiatives undertaken by the administration since Dr. Otuaro's appointment in March 2024.

For completeness, the Team highlights the following areas of intervention.

i. Leadership Training Across Phases 1, 2, and 3

The administration launched a strategic Leadership, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Mediation Training Programme for PAP stakeholders in collaboration with the Nigerian Army Resource Centre.

The programme has been conducted in several batches, with certificates presented to participants in the third and fourth batches.

The Phase 2 national chairman described the initiative as a turning point in the pursuit of peace, personal growth, and community development. A former Phase 2 national chairman also commended the programme as evidence of Dr.

Otuaro's commitment to reform and capacity building.

Similarly, the Phase 3 national chairman has acknowledged that leadership training is ongoing, laptops are being distributed, and empowerment initiatives are gradually returning.

These interventions are significant because they extend beyond immediate financial benefits to equip beneficiaries and community leaders with practical skills for leadership, conflict resolution, mediation, and constructive engagement.

There is also an important connection between these initiatives and the present dispute. The very stakeholders being mobilised for protest are among those who can benefit from the programme's emphasis on dialogue, dispute resolution, and mediation.

The Team believes that these mechanisms should be given a fair opportunity to serve their intended purpose.

Peace is more sustainable when grievances are resolved through informed dialogue, responsible leadership, and practical dispute-resolution skills.

ii. Education: Expanding Access to Academic Opportunities

The administration has reportedly deployed approximately 9,000 scholarships for studies in Nigerian universities and 247 scholarships for offshore postgraduate studies.

These opportunities represent a substantial investment in the educational advancement of beneficiaries and the development of human capital within the Niger Delta.

A Phase 3 leader has also stated that the number of scholarship beneficiaries increased from fewer than 100 when Dr. Otuaro assumed office to more than 4,000 at the time of the statement.

The figures attributed to the administration and beneficiary representatives reflect the importance of education as a pathway to long-term reintegration, personal development, and improved economic prospects.

Scholarship opportunities enable beneficiaries to acquire qualifications and professional competencies that can support their participation in the wider economy.

iii. Tuition and Allowances: Financial Support for Beneficiaries

During his first year in office, the PAP reportedly paid ₦1.75 billion in onshore tuition fees and allowances.

This expenditure underscores the financial commitment required to sustain educational opportunities for beneficiaries studying within Nigeria.

The payment of tuition and allowances is particularly important in ensuring that scholarship opportunities translate into actual educational participation and continuity.

For a reintegration programme, investment in education is not merely an administrative obligation; it is an investment in the future capacity of the people it serves.

iv. Offshore Opportunities: Advancing Postgraduate Education

The administration has also facilitated postgraduate placements in universities in the United Kingdom.

Significantly, nine beneficiaries from the first cohort reportedly graduated in December 2025.

Such opportunities expose beneficiaries to advanced academic training, specialised knowledge, and international learning environments that may contribute to professional development and capacity building. The broader objective is to ensure that reintegration encompasses not only immediate support but also the development of skills, qualifications, and competencies capable of producing lasting benefits.

v. Skills Development and the Blue Economy The administration has reportedly deployed 98 delegates for maritime-related skills training, while Niger Delta indigenes have also been deployed to South Africa for aviation-sector training.

These initiatives reflect efforts to expand access to specialised training and employment-related opportunities in sectors with potential relevance to the region's economic development. Maritime and aviation skills can provide pathways into specialised industries, while broader skills-development initiatives can support employability, enterprise development, and economic participation.

For the Niger Delta, where questions of youth empowerment and sustainable livelihoods remain important, investment in practical and industry-relevant skills is a significant component of long-term reintegration.

vi. Governance and Institutional Reforms Beyond scholarships and training, the administration has undertaken initiatives relating to beneficiary-record verification, the establishment and operation of a call centre, and stakeholder consultations involving leaders across the programme's three phases.

These measures address important administrative questions: how beneficiaries are identified, how complaints are received, how records are maintained, and how stakeholders participate in discussions concerning the programme.

Reliable data supports more effective administration. Accessible complaint channels create opportunities for concerns to be documented.

Stakeholder consultations provide a platform for dialogue between programme management and beneficiary representatives.

Taken together, these initiatives point to efforts aimed at strengthening the programme's administrative processes and its engagement with beneficiaries. Beyond Payments: Building Human Capital and Sustainable Reintegration The Team believes that these initiatives deserve consideration in any balanced assessment of Dr.

Otuaro's tenure.

A reintegration programme should not be judged exclusively by the payment of stipends. Financial support is important, but sustainable reintegration also requires education, vocational development, leadership capacity, institutional accountability, and opportunities for meaningful economic participation.

The initiatives highlighted above are therefore relevant to understanding the broader direction of the administration. These are structural interventions whose outcomes and implementation can be assessed against verifiable records.

A programme that only disburses money addresses immediate needs; a programme that also builds skills, expands educational opportunities, and strengthens leadership invests in the future.

The Team's position is that the PAP's performance should be evaluated in light of both its financial obligations to beneficiaries and its broader reintegration mandate.

DIALOGUE REMAINS OPEN: A CALL FOR RESPONSIBLE ENGAGEMENT

The Dr. Dennis Otuaro Volunteer Media Team reiterates that Dr.

Otuaro has not closed the door to dialogue with beneficiaries and their representatives. He has pledged to maintain regular meetings with delegates, receive feedback, and facilitate the timely handling of complaints.

He has also held stakeholder meetings with leaders representing the programme's three phases.

The Team further notes that leaders from the three phases have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to extend Dr. Otuaro's tenure to enable him to consolidate the ongoing reforms.

These developments demonstrate the importance of continued stakeholder engagement in assessing the administration's direction and the expectations of beneficiaries. The Team supports constructive engagement at every level, provided that complaints are properly documented, concerns are presented in good faith, and the parties remain committed to evidence-based resolution.

Where beneficiaries have legitimate grievances, those concerns deserve attention. Equally, where the administration has undertaken reforms and established channels for engagement, those efforts deserve a fair and objective assessment.

The way forward should be guided by the common objective of improving the programme and protecting the interests of its beneficiaries.

THE RIGHT TO PROTEST AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESERVE PEACE

The Team acknowledges the constitutional right to peaceful assembly. However, the exercise of that right must be understood within the applicable legal framework and alongside the legitimate interests of public order and the rights of others.

The proposed November 2 protest raises concerns about the wisdom of proceeding with a demonstration when the allegations at its centre, as the publication itself acknowledges, have not been independently verified.

The Team is particularly concerned about the potential implications of escalating unresolved administrative grievances into a public confrontation when opportunities for dialogue and formal complaint resolution remain available.

The Niger Delta has made significant sacrifices in its pursuit of peace, stability, and development. That progress should not be exposed to avoidable risks arising from disputes that can be addressed through responsible engagement.

Peaceful protest is a legitimate democratic instrument, but it should not become the first or only response to every unresolved administrative concern.

Where documentation, stakeholder meetings, formal petitions, and judicial remedies are available, they should be considered in good faith.

The objective should be to resolve grievances, protect beneficiaries, and preserve peace—not to create further uncertainty around a programme established to support reintegration and development.

In view of the foregoing, the Dr. Dennis Otuaro Volunteer Media Team respectfully but firmly appeals to the coalition and those mobilising support for the proposed November 2 protest to reconsider their decision and refrain from proceeding with the demonstration.

We urge the coalition to pursue documented petitions, formal stakeholder meetings, and appropriate legal remedies where necessary. Specific complaints should be supported by names, dates, figures, and relevant records so that they can be properly examined and addressed.

The Team remains convinced that constructive engagement offers a more productive path towards resolving genuine grievances than a demonstration built around allegations that have yet to be substantiated.

Dr. Otuaro should be allowed to concentrate on the administration's ongoing responsibilities, including scholarship opportunities, beneficiary-data reforms, leadership training, skills development, and reintegration initiatives, while remaining accountable for the proper discharge of his official duties.

Our position is not that legitimate complaints should be ignored. Rather, it is that such complaints should be presented and resolved through processes that promote accuracy, fairness, accountability, and lasting solutions.

The beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme deserve an atmosphere in which their concerns can be heard, their entitlements properly verified, and their opportunities for development strengthened.

The Niger Delta also deserves a public conversation grounded in facts rather than speculation, constructive engagement rather than unnecessary confrontation, and sustainable peace rather than avoidable tension. Put down the placards.

Pick up the facts. Choose dialogue over confrontation, evidence over speculation, and sustainable peace over avoidable tension.

The Dr. Dennis Otuaro administration remains committed to constructive engagement in the collective interest of PAP beneficiaries and the wider Niger Delta region.

Signed: Dr. Dennis Otuaro Volunteer Media Team