Group Hails President Buhari Over Sack of Boroh; Commends His Choice of Dokubo

Amb. Ochuko Patrick Otoba

An international human rights Activist and a group of ex-militants of the Niger Delta Phase III have come together to applaud President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR on his bold decision to remove from office, his Special Adviser and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for Niger Delta militants, Brig. General Paul Boroh.

The group, under the leadership of Chief Ochuko Patrick Otoba, an international social activist and crusader for the emancipation of the Niger Delta people, commended

the Nigeria President for the action following series of complaints of impropriety and acts that are inimical to the successful implementation of the Amnesty Programme which is aimed at bringing about, a lasting solution and sustainable peace to the region.

According to Chief Otoba, “General Boroh’s stint as the Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme only brought about more confusion, exclusion, and misrepresentation of the government’s intentions for the people of the region”.

“Such actions of exclusions would only cause disaffection among the various groups therefore, resulting in acrimony, chaos and unrest in the region. This is not what, we as leaders of the people desire for the youths in the various communities”.

Speaking on the replacement of the retired Army General with Charles Quaker Dokubo, a Professor in Strategic Studies and, currently, Director of Research and Studies at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Chief Otoba who is the Urhobo Arts and Cultural Advancement Ambassador in Burkina Faso, and also, the PG of the Urhobo Progress Union in Burkina Faso says “the sack of Boroh is indeed an answer to the prayers of the youths who were consistently sidelined in the Amnesty programme but, with the firm decision by President Buhari to ensure that peace and security in the Niger Delta is sustained, there is hope for all”, he said.

Otoba describes the appointment of Prof. Charles Dokubo by the Nigerian President as “timely and a round peg-in-a-round-hole” considering his antecedents in peace and conflict resolution especially in his immediate constituency; the Niger-Delta.

“We are quite appreciative of the appointment of Dokubo as a replacement for Boroh and it is also our prayers the new Coordinator will be mindful of the faults of his predecessor in office and make the necessary corrections by bringing together, all stakeholders, particularly, the ex-militants of Phase III and their respective leaders, to a round-table to discuss and forge new ways of sustaining that peace which is almost breaking down”.

“As a leader and stakeholder, it is my sincere wish that Dokubo succeeds as Special Adviser to the President on the Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta as his antecedents and profile speaks volumes about his capabilities”.

Ambassador Chief Ochuko Patrick Otoba, an industrialist and philanthropist, is the President of LUTRA JEUNES; an international NGO involved in research and fighting against human trafficking, especially under-aged girls in neighbouring African countries and even in Europe.