The Forum of Ex-agitators in the Niger Delta has berated a self-acclaimed leader of the Arewa community in the South, one Alhaji Musa Saidu, for demanding the sack of the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty programme (PAP), Col Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd).
The ex-agitators, in a statement, condemned Saidu’s call, saying it is another hatchet job by the enemies of Dikio who have lost out in their bid to continue to use the Amnesty Programme as their Automated Teller Machine (ATM).
In the statement signed by the Chairman of the First Phase Ex-agitators Forum, HRH Henry Binidodogha, also known as Egbema 1, they said it was unfortunate that the so-called Arewa chief could dwell on the issue of the Senate probe of N10billion in the PAP to call for Dikio’s sack, even when it has been sufficiently proved that allegations in 2015 predated the PAP boss’ tenure which began in August 2020.
“It’s clear that the charlatan can’t read,” the ex-agitators said.
The group noted that contrary to the spurious claims by Saidu, Dikio had done well since he took over the office, insisting that as direct beneficiaries of the programme they are in the right position to assess his performance.
They explained that the prevailing peace in the region, which the Arewa chief and his cohorts are enjoying, is largely due to the hard work by Dikio working with other key stakeholders in the region.
According to them, what has clearly distinguished Dikio from his predecessors is the constant engagement with stakeholders, his all-inclusive style of governance and his sincere commitment to honour agreements
as well as fulfill promises he had made.
Describing Alhaji Saidu as a meddlesome interloper, the group advised the Arewa leader to use the same energy he had dissipated on Dikio to demand for a better deal for the North East Development Agency.
The ex-agitators Forum’s statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a statement in some national dailies credited to one Alhaji Musa Saidu, a self acclaimed Arewa leader in the South, calling for the sack of our brother and father, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd).
“The claims in the said statement is laughable and could only have come from a delusioned mind who is obviously blind to see that under Dikio there is sustained peace in the region and that the usual protest that led to several blockage of major parts of the East/West road like the Mbiama axis has stopped.
“Alhaji Musa Saidu is also blind to see that under Dikio, ex-agitators and members of impacted communities in the region are being trained in different industries just as the payment of the monthly stipends has become more prompt than ever before.
“We urge Alhaji Musa Saidu to focus on the North East Development agency, where he is a stakeholder and stop his treacherous acts capable of instigating unnecessary tension in the Niger Delta. We will not allow that”.
They warned that henceforth they would not fail to name and shame all those behind the monumental corruption that had rocked the Amnesty Programme before Dikio and would lead a massive protest to call for their probe.
