UPU Youthwing President Makes Case For Urhobo Indigene As Amnesty Boss

By Daniel Dafe
The President of the apex body governing Urhobo youths, Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Youthwing, Worldwide, Comrade Efemena Umukoro, has appealed to President Muhammadu, to in the spirit of equity and fairness consider an Urhobo indigene for appointment as his Special Adviser on the Amnesty Programme.
Umukoro, made this call in an open letter to the president.
Continuing, the vibrant youth leader, recalled that the commencement of the Amnesty Programme by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, was aimed at giving all Niger Deltans a sense of belonging, adding that Buhari has also shown his love for the region by sustaining the programme.
He said: “Some of those that have occupied the said office include Major Gen. Godwin O. Abbe (rtd) CFR DSS MNI. Abbe hails from Edo State. He was also a minister of Interior. General Abbe was also Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Committee between 2009 and 2010. Timi Alaibe, an indigene of Bayelsa State was a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) prior to his appointment as Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta. Hon. Kingsley Kemebradigha Kuku hails from Ondo State and he was appointed as the Coordinator in January 2011 and his tenure elapsed in 2015.
He continued: “Gen. P.T. Boroh (rtd), who hails from Bayelsa State was appointed Coordinator of the programme in July 2015 and his tenure elapsed in March 2018. Prof. Charles Dokubo happened to be the immediate past Coordinator who was just relieved of the office after been appointed as the Coordinator of the said programme on the 13th of March, 2018. He hails from Rivers State.”
Umukoro added: “Sir from these facts, you will discover that even though the Urhobos who happen to be one of the major stakeholders in Niger Delta and have contributed to the economic growth in the country are been marginalized in terms of leadership in this regard. It is worthy to note that from inception, no Deltan has held that office and it is time a Deltan, not just a Deltan but an Urhobo young vibrant man be appointed as the next Amnesty boss. We have come together to let you know that we are strongly behind the call for an Urhobo man to serve us and we know they can do better; there is no doubt about this.”
Speaking further, he promised to continue to mobilize Niger Delta youths, especially youths under his leadership to continue to contribute their own quota towards the success of the programmes of the Buhari-led administration for a better Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.