The Vice Chairman of the Second Phase Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), General John Esuku, has issued a statement urging the public to disregard false claims made by certain members of the Daddy Ken Barrack group regarding the alleged sharing of stipends in the amnesty program.
According to Esuku, the recent rumors circulating about the PAP office withholding beneficiaries’ backlogged stipends or sharing them on a 50:50 basis are entirely baseless and misleading.
These false claims allege that beneficiaries are only receiving half of their entitlements, with the other half being withheld or diverted, which he insists is not true.
In his statement, Esuku reassured the public, particularly beneficiaries of the amnesty program, that under the leadership of Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro (PhD), the PAP remains committed to full transparency and the fair disbursement of all stipends.
He further emphasized that the current administration inherited some backlog of payments from the previous administration, but efforts to resolve these outstanding payments are underway, with some backlogs already being cleared.
Esuku praised the integrity and transparency of Dr. Otuaro’s leadership, assuring beneficiaries that the PAP office has always communicated payment updates through official channels and has not withheld any payments. He warned against rumors aimed at creating unrest and urged beneficiaries to refrain from participating in any protests based on misinformation.
In conclusion, Esuku called for continued cooperation with the PAP office, reiterating that all backlogged stipends would be paid in full without any unlawful deductions or reduction. He encouraged beneficiaries to remain patient as the office continues its efforts to fulfill its mandate of promoting peace and reintegration for ex-agitators in the Niger Delta.