… Claim Otuaro ‘Worked for Atiku’
By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The appointment of Dennis Otuaro as administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has been rejected by the Delta State APC Transparency and Advocacy Group.
The group rather called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to replace him with a registered member of All Progressives Congress APC in Delta State.
In statement released in Asaba on Monday, by Comrade Clever Fomana, coordinator and Mr. Luke F. Orotoma, secretary, the group alleged that Otuaro was a member of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Council in 2019 and 2023 respectively and thus cannot be rewarded with an appointment by President Tinubu to the detriment of members of APC who worked for the President in the 2023 Presidential election.
They added that Dennis Otuaro’s name is not in the approved APC register in Gbaramatu ward 4, in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
“We, the members of Delta State APC Transparency and Advocacy Group (DSATAG), vehemently reject the appointment of Mr. Dennis Otuaro as Administrator of Presidential Amnesty Programme. We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently replace Dennis Otuaro with a registered member of All Progressives Congress APC from Delta State.”
The group said, “During the campaigns and before the 2023 general elections, members of APC across the country were promised and fully assured of appointments and adequate compensation.
“Therefore, why should he be rewarded and given such a sensitive appointment, against APC members who worked very hard and tirelessly for President Bola Tinubu and all candidates of the party in the last general elections.
“It is our concern that this appointment was already depleting the popularity of Mr. President in Delta State, since the announcement of Dennis Otuaro as administrator of Presidential Programme.”
They further expressed fear that members of APC in Delta State were losing trust and confidence in the party because of the appointment of Otuaro as PAP administrator.
“The results as declared by INEC indicated that Mr. President and all APC candidates lost in Okerenkoko unit 46, in the 2023 general elections. Mr. President can investigate whose polling unit is that,” the statement said.
The group admonished President Tinubu to implement the “reward system he is known for,” and appoint the administrator from the thousands of APC members in Delta State.
“We believe that President Tinubu can still correct the error now by replacing Otuaro with a member of APC as administrator before it is too late and become regrettable later.
“The essence of being a registered member of a political party is very vital and significant in a democratic process, this should not be undermined. Giving appointment to a non-party member against registered APC members is sending a very bad signal that will be detrimental to the party.
“Very importantly, it is expected that since APC couldn’t win the governorship election in Delta State and its governorship candidate did not succeed at the court, a sensitive position such as the administrator of Presidential Amnesty Programme should have been given to a member of APC in Delta State to keep APC alive in the state ahead of 2027 Presidential election,” they said.
The group appealed to President Tinubu to immediately appoint a member of APC as administrator of Presidential Amnesty Programme, “because party is supreme.”
