RE: REFUTATION OF BASELESS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST CHIEF DR. DENNIS OTUARO PhD., THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY PROGRAMME, BY A SO-CALLED WARRI MEDIA GROUP.
The Niger-Delta Environmental Justice Coalition, through its spokesman Comrade Abalagha Adawari, unequivocally condemns and refutes the baseless, malicious, and divisive allegations leveled against Dr. Dennis Otuaro, Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), by the so-called Warri Media Group in their press statement dated May 16, 2025. These accusations are not only unfounded but are a calculated attempt to sow discord, undermine peace, and destabilize the fragile harmony in the Niger Delta.
We categorically reject the claim that Dr. Otuaro’s participation in the remembrance of Major Isaac Adaka Boro in Warri constitutes a “provocative overreach” and an attempt to stoke ethnic tension. Major Isaac Boro, a revered nationalist of Ijaw heritage and a bonafide son of the Niger Delta, fought for the liberation and justice of all Niger Deltans. His legacy transcends ethnic boundaries, and his contributions to the region and Nigeria as a whole are celebrated across the Niger Delta.
To suggest that commemorating such a hero in Warri, a city within the Niger Delta, is an act of ethnic provocation taken too far by these elements and their co travelers. It is not only absurd but a deliberate distortion of history aimed at fanning division. We affirm that Major Boro’s memory can and should be honored anywhere in the Niger Delta, and no group has the right to gatekeep such commemorations.
We warn the Warri Media Group to immediately desist from orchestrating division and promoting ethnic chauvinism in the Niger Delta. Their actions threaten the unity and collective progress of our region. Every Nigerian, regardless of political or religious affiliation, has the constitutional right to assemble and commemorate shared heroes anywhere in Nigeria, as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Attempts to curtail this right under the guise of ethnic exclusivity are unacceptable and must be condemned by all well-meaning stakeholders.
The Niger-Delta Environmental Justice Coalition also dismisses as laughable and baseless the allegation that Dr. Otuaro did not support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 general election. This claim is a product of shoddy journalism and a failure of due diligence by the Warri Media Group. Dr. Otuaro tirelessly campaigned across the creeks and communities of the Niger Delta, mobilizing support for President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC). His commitment to the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda is evident in his actions and the transformative programs he continues to implement under the PAP.
The Warri Media Group’s failure to verify these facts before peddling such falsehoods exposes their agenda to malign and discredit a dedicated public servant.
Equally reprehensible is the accusation that Dr. Otuaro sponsored splinter groups to protest and allege interference by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) delineation exercise in Warri. We state categorically that this claim is a fabrication with no iota of truth. Dr. Otuaro holds the First Lady in the highest esteem, regarding her as a mother and a respected national figure. The attempt to link him to such protests is a desperate ploy to tarnish his reputation and create discord between him and the Presidency.
Furthermore, the allegation that Dr. Otuaro induced INEC National Commissioner, Mrs. Rhoda Gumus, to carry out any delineation exercise is baseless and holds no water. Dr. Otuaro remains steadfastly committed to the mandate of the PAP, which focuses on reintegration, empowerment, and peacebuilding in the Niger Delta, and has no involvement in electoral processes or delineations.
We also find the accusation that Dr. Otuaro orchestrated the removal of Mrs. Edith E. Eyesan, an illustrious Itsekiri daughter, as Executive Vice President, Upstream, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), to be utterly laughable and a childish attempt at blackmail. Dr. Otuaro has no connection to or influence over such corporate decisions, and this accusation is a reckless fabrication designed to incite ethnic tension.
Mrs. Eyesan’s contributions to the oil and gas sector are well-respected, and attempts to drag her name into baseless controversies are deplorable.
The Niger-Delta Environmental Justice Coalition understands the enormous responsibility that comes with Dr. Otuaro’s role as Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. We affirm that no amount of blackmail, orchestrated media attacks, or smear campaigns by faceless groups like the Warri Media Group will derail him from executing his constitutional duties.
Dr. Otuaro remains resolute in implementing programs and initiatives aimed at reintegrating and empowering Niger Delta youths who laid down their arms to embrace peace, thereby fostering sustainable development in the region. His commitment to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is unwavering, and his leadership continues to inspire hope and progress across the Niger Delta.
We call on all Niger Delta stakeholders, including traditional rulers, community leaders, and civil society organizations, to reprimand and call to order elements bent on destroying the unity and progress of our region through divisive media attacks and blackmail. Such actions are inimical to the collective interest of the Niger Delta and must be resisted.
The Niger-Delta Environmental Justice Coalition stands firmly behind Dr. Dennis Otuaro and the Presidential Amnesty Programme. We urge all Niger Deltans to remain vigilant and united in the pursuit of peace, development, and prosperity for our region.
Signed:
Comrade Abalagha Adawari
Spokesman, Niger-Delta Environmental Justice Coalition
May 20, 2025