Reps ultimatum to PAP administrator unnecessary distraction – IYC

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The Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide has described the House of Representatives’ 72‑hour ultimatum to the Presidential Amnesty Programme administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, as “an unnecessary distraction that threatens the ongoing peace‑building and development efforts in the Niger Delta.”

“The House committee’s insistence on an arrest warrant is ‘curious and unnecessary,’” the IYC said.

This was contained in a statement issued by the IYC spokesman, Dr Binebai Princewill, in Warri on Tuesday.

Members of the House of Representatives have threatened an arrest warrant “if Otuaro fails to appear before the Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday.”

The IYC’s stance echoes earlier criticism from the Ijaw Youths Network, which faulted the House of Representatives for “dragging Otuaro to answer questions on alleged breaches that predated his appointment.”

The IYC, in its statement, however, highlighted that the alleged financial discrepancies cited in the Auditor‑General’s 2021 report predate Otuaro’s appointment and are already being examined through proper channels.

“The PAP administration has pledged full cooperation with the audit process,” the IYC noted, warning that criminalising the Programme’s leadership without due process could erode public trust and reignite tensions in the region.

The IYC, however, praised Otuaro’s record since taking the helm in March 2024.

“Dr Otuaro has demonstrated commendable dedication to constant stakeholder engagement, prompt payment of stipends to beneficiaries, massive deployment of students on both international and national scholarships, and robust vocational‑training programmes that underpin the region’s stability,” the IYC stated.

The IYC reminded the National Assembly that “Nigeria is grappling with severe insecurity, rampant inflation and widespread hardship.”

The statement read in part, “Our people are dying from banditry, kidnapping, and economic distress.

“Rather than deploying parliamentary resources to pursue a single public official, the House should redirect its energy toward addressing the root causes of unrest, enhancing security infrastructure, and delivering tangible economic relief to Nigerians.”

The IYC posited that its call to action is threefold: rescind the 72‑hour ultimatum and withdraw the arrest threat; engage constructively with PAP leadership to resolve audit queries transparently; and prioritise legislative measures that tackle the nation’s security challenges and economic hardships.

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