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Presidential Amnesty: Ex-agitators intensify calls for Ndiomu’s immediate removal, invites NSA, IGP, says MD Ogbuku should be Cautious of him
The Bayelsa State Chapter of the Ex-agitators’ Leadership forum, has intensified calls for the immediate removal of the interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Gen. Barry Ndiomu, for threatening the peace enjoyed in the region by redirecting the programme to suit personal ambition.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Yenagoa, the Chairman of the first phase ex-agitators leadership forum, General Charles James Kurobo noted that “Gen. Ndiomu’s deft ears and blind eyes towards the first phase leaders from Bayelsa State can no longer be condoned” and that they’re being forced to return to the streets by the leadership style of the interim Administrator.
While, applauding the the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, for his efforts in repositioning the NDDC for continuous improvement, the ex-agitator leaders advised the NDDC boss not to align with Gen. Barry Ndiomu who is under persistent calls for suspension and immediate arrest for abnormalities.
The forum said “the reigning peace in the region is sustained to attract investors” has become a common saying or slogan, so-to-say and we are no longer comfortable when components set up by the federal government to sustain the peace enjoyed so far are the ones pushing the said peace to fragility.
“We appreciate Dr. Ogbuku for his efforts to repositioning the NDDC for continuous improvement and applaud such laudable achievement but aligning with Gen. Barry Ndiomu at the time of persistent calls for his suspension and immediate arrest is not in the best interest of the NDDC boss and we advice him not to join issues bedeviling the Ex-agitators’ Leadership forum, Bayelsa State Chapter of especially the first phase leaders and the PAP with the NDDC.
“We have done our best and we know it. We also appreciate the world’s knowledge on the corporate ways of addressing issues beyond street agitations but it is also our responsibility to let the world know the appointees mandated by the federal government in some quarters, to manage and sustain the peace, are those pushing us back to the streets because they flourish more during chaos and crisis.
“For as much as we don’t want to be seen as gullible for such antics, Gen. Ndiomu’s deft ears and blind eyes towards the first phase leaders from Bayelsa State can no longer be condoned because we are overstretched already.
“You can not expect us to stay off the streets by deliberately subjecting us to penury and to be honest, we are at the end of that line because the IA has given us no room,” they said.
Calling on the President, H.E Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to suspend the interim Administrator of PAP as his continued stay in office may spark another regional crisis from ex-militants who genuinely gave up arms, the ex-agitators noted that Gen. Ndiomu is continually creating room for a crisis by forming and appointing groups on their behalf and introducing figures that are not justifiable.
“We honestly can not continue like this. We have made series of appeals over the state of the PAP under Major Gen. Barry Ndiom’s deplorable behavior and we, the Ex-agitators’ leadership forum, Bayelsa State chapter are saying we can not take this anymore! We are once again calling on the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to immediately suspend and arrest the interim Administrator of the PAP as his continued stay in office may spark another regional crisis from ex-militants who genuinely gave up arms.
“He is continually creating room for a crisis he cannot manage by initiating appointments on our behalf and introducing figures we can not identify or point out there roles during the struggle.
It’s never been heard about such an office as ‘The national Chairman of Ex-agitators’.
“Sponsoring people for publications with titles just so they attend secret meetings like the one held in Port Harcourt recently where the NDDC played host, was not in the interest of peace or the Ex-agitators’ Leadership forum because chapters were in attendance, including Bayelsa State, meaning we were not invited. How then do you sustain peace under such measure? It could either be a clear attempt to undermine and distort or a clear lack of competence to manage and sustain existing peace,” they said.
Explaining that the Interim Administrator has lost focus and mobilizing people with no idea of the struggle against the actual beneficiaries, the ex-agitators noted that the PAP office under Gen. Ndiomu is now characterized with lack of transparency, mismanagement of resources allocated to the program, favoritism and support meant for Ex-agitators been grossly misappropriated.
“People with no idea of our pains before and during the struggle cannot be seen as our leaders after peace has been restored for this long. This, we will resist by any means necessary.
“We are hereby calling on the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) the CG, NSCDC, to urgently intervene and redirect the steps to the context and goals of the Presidential Amnesty Program and see to it that it’s original objectives that typically began with an official announcement and declaration by the Nigerian government in 2009, where eligibility and benefits were offered to former militants who participated in the region, as a foundation.
“There are clear indications of how the Interim Administrator has lost focus and seen the actual beneficiaries as enemies which has put us under intense pressure and frantic calls seeking solutions to issues and redress concerning PAP office has not been fruitful. Unfortunately, a lot of questions like; “who are these people claiming to be representing Ex-agitators and what do they represent?
“People hired by Gen. Ndiomu are obviously not helping matters because they can not best advice him in areas requiring practical field experience to do so. We have been taken for granted for far too long by the IA and we see him taking advantage of the fact that after realizing the benefits of dialogue and toeing the line of peace, our hands are tied to act otherwise. I advice the retired general to have a rethink.
“Lack of transparency, mismanagement of resources allocated to the program and favoritism resulting in the benefits not reaching the intended beneficiaries and while the rehabilitation and reintegration phase were well-intended, the support meant for Ex-agitators has been grossly misappropriated, giving room to peace fragility.
“The inadequate support for education, job placement and societal reintegration has kept us under pressure, seeing that some of the ex-militants the I.A has pushed to the wall don’t fall back to violence or criminal activities and calls to get Gen. Ndiomu’s attention on the way forward to these situations we seek solutions to, has constantly fallen on deft ears because he has derailed and clearly lost focus due to his quest to redirect the program to suit his personal ambition and for this reason, we appeal for the redemption of the PAP office from Gen. Barry Ndiomu through the offices mentioned above.
“Instead of concentrating on goals of the program, Gen. Ndiomu’s lack of sustainable livelihood opportunities for the reintegration has led to extreme frustration among Ex-agitators, making some more susceptible to regrouping for an unproductive course,” they added.
Membership Drive — August: Month of Membership 2025/2026
By Prince Adeyemi Aseperi-Shonibare
Charter President, Rotary Club of Ikeja Alausa
“Friendship was the foundation rock on which Rotary was built and tolerance is the element which holds it together.” — Paul Harris, Founder of Rotary
This August, Rotary clubs worldwide celebrate Membership Month — a time to reflect on why we joined, how we serve, and who we will invite next. Membership is the heartbeat of Rotary. Without new minds, fresh energy, and diverse perspectives, even the most vibrant club risks losing momentum. If you have yet to invite a friend, colleague, or family member to join, you may be withholding one of life’s greatest gifts: the opportunity to serve humanity through fellowship.
Rotary is not just a meeting. It is a movement, a mindset, and a lifestyle of purpose — a passport to significance and a front-row seat to impact humanity.
We are 1.4 million members in more than 200 countries and territories, united by a single motto: Service Above Self. Membership begins with one simple act — an invitation.
“The true measure of a Rotarian’s leadership is not in holding a title, but in multiplying our tribe” “When everyone bring one, and you’ve changed a life. Bring many, and you’ve changed the world.”
Rotary’s 7 Areas of Focus: A Magnetic Invitation
The most compelling way to introduce someone to Rotary is through action. The 7 Areas of Focus are powerful entry points for potential members:
1. Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention – Promoting dialogue, resolving disputes, and fostering understanding.
2. Disease Prevention and Treatment – Fighting polio, tackling malaria, and expanding access to healthcare.
3. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene – Providing clean water and proper sanitation for healthier communities.
4. Maternal and Child Health – Reducing mortality and empowering mothers through quality care.
5. Basic Education and Literacy – Combating illiteracy and fostering lifelong learning.
6. Community Economic Development – Creating jobs, supporting entrepreneurship, and reducing poverty.
7. Supporting the Environment – Protecting ecosystems, promoting sustainability, and addressing climate change.
When people see Rotary in action — planting trees, building schools, equipping hospitals, or supporting mental health — they see a cause worth joining.
Meetings That Inspire
Rotary meetings should be engaging, uplifting, and relevant. Keep them concise and full of energy. Vary formats with outdoor fellowships, club visits, service days, and inspiring guest speakers. Hybrid meetings are vital in today’s busy world — reliable internet, quality audio-visual tools, and inclusivity ensure every member stays connected, even when attending from office or outside the country.
Caring for Our Own
A strong club does not only serve the community; it also cares for its members. Reach out to those who miss meetings. Make every member feel valued. Rotary is a family — and families look out for one another.
Why Members Leave — And Why They Stay
Members leave when they feel disengaged, meetings lack energy, onboarding is weak, culture is unwelcoming, or flexibility is absent.
Members stay when they find meaningful service, global fellowship, personal growth, flexible structures, and a shared purpose.
Inviting People Into Rotary
Lead by example. Share Rotary stories. Use social media. Invite community leaders. Showcase our projects in maternal health, peacebuilding, and the environment. Host open events. Involve families. Show them a project in action. And never underestimate the power of asking: “Would you like to join Rotary?”
The Benefits of Rotary
Rotary membership opens doors to global friendship, leadership growth, professional networks, international experiences, purposeful living, recognition, and the joy of leaving a legacy. As RI Past President Barry Rassin said: “Rotary is a gift. You don’t keep a gift this good to yourself.”
This Rotary year, let us shine our light brighter, welcome more members, and extend the most valuable gift — the invitation to a life of service and fellowship.
Be the reason someone says, “Joining Rotary changed my life.”
Come and join Rotary with me. See what we do, feel the fellowship, share in the service, and be part of a story bigger than yourself. Let every Rotarian bring at least one new member. My personal goal this year is to bring ten. It is possible, it is necessary, and it is how we keep the Rotary light shining.
Fellow Nigerians, and friends of Nigeria abroad,
They said the APC was not popular with the people. They said its strength was only in government houses, not in the marketplace, not in the villages, not in the hearts of men and women who rise each day to labor under the hot sun. Yet the people have now spoken, and their voice is louder than the rumors of social media, stronger than the whispers of drawing rooms.
In the bye-elections of this past weekend, sixteen seats were set before the people. Out of these, the APC took eleven, stretching across Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Taraba, Ogun, Kogi, Edo, Adamawa, and Niger. One more stands in contest, and there too the APC leads.
APGA secured two seats in Anambra. The PDP held one in Oyo. The NNPP claimed one in Kano. But the others—ADC, SDP, Labour—were nowhere to be found. Not a single seat fell their way.
So I ask: how do you define popularity? By the clamor on Facebook? By the trend on Instagram? By the fury of TikTok or the storms of X? No. Popularity in a democracy is measured by ballots cast, by hands inked, by real people walking to the polls to say with their vote: this is who we trust.
In America, they speak of midterm elections, a verdict passed halfway through a presidency. There, such elections measure the strength of the president and the staying power of his party. Nigeria has no midterm Congress. But these bye-elections, spread across thirteen states and five geopolitical zones, are our closest equivalent. And their meaning cannot be ignored.
Many thought the ADC, older in years than the APC, would rise with its new converts and prove itself a rival. Many thought the PDP would mount a strong wave. But the verdict of the ballot tells a different story. The PDP lives, but it fights to hold ground. The ADC, SDP, and Labour remain shadows, not yet substance. The NNPP, for all its color, remains a Kano river, not a national sea.
The APC, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has not only stood but has been endorsed. For all the cries, for all the bitter words against his reforms, the people have answered with their votes: they are willing to endure the hard medicine if it promises a better tomorrow.
What then is the road ahead? It is clear. The APC stands as the party to beat in 2027. The opposition must gather itself, must bind its wounds, must cease from fighting in fragments if it wishes to rise as a true alternative.
But for now, let it be recorded in the annals of our young democracy: that on the 16th of August, 2025, the Nigerian people spoke with ballots, not hashtags; with votes, not noise; with courage, not despair. And their verdict was plain.
The APC is not a party of rumor, but a party of the people.
The Lagos State Government, in its continued effort to promote cultural heritage and deepen tourism footprints, has concluded plans to host the Lagos Cultural Weekend.
A three-day cultural extravaganza, scheduled to take place across multiple strategic locations, including the J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, Freedom Park, National Theatre, Badagry Heritage Museum, Lekki Arts and Crafts Market, and Tafawa Balewa Square, from November 14th to November 16th, 2025.
This weekend-long celebration will spotlight the richness of Nigeria’s traditions through curated events that blend history, culture, and local artistry.
Speaking on the initiative, Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe, noted that the event is a key part of a broader framework of the Lagos Cultural Mission.
“We aim to use the Lagos Cultural Weekend as a true reflection of Lagos culture, a herescope for tourists and visitors from across the globe to witness just how rich our culture is.
“The three days will be a cultural baptism, a deep, meaningful introduction to who we are. As a government, we now understand prioritising cultural representation as a driver for economic growth.
”On the initiative’s impact, the Special Adviser explained that it goes beyond showcasing culture, but investing in cultural artisans, talented enthusiasts, and key stakeholders to foster real engagement and growth.“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration values collaboration and inclusiveness, which is why we want to work closely with Lagosians who truly understand our culture to help us achieve these goals.
“From the historians, to creatives, curators, artisans, culinary experts, performers, fashion designers, community leaders, and traditional institutions, we need them to join us in making a lasting impact.“So that, in the end, our guests and friends from many nations will carry home an authentic story of Lagos and enriched cultural literacy,” Mr. Aregbe said.
Attendees will enjoy array of activities, including live music performances, DIY sessions, contemporary art exhibitions, traditional dance showcases, fashion shows, culinary tastings, and craft demonstrations.
Also lined up are symposiums and cultural lectures designed for tourists and enthusiasts who wish to dive deeper into the Lagos cultural identity.
The weekend will be animated by diverse local performance groups representing the rich ethnic landscape of Lagos, with a special emphasis on language, literature, and indigenous storytelling.
Lagos Cultural Weekend 2025 reaffirms the state’s commitment to building a thriving creative economy while celebrating the depth of Nigerian traditions.
Through strategic partnerships, corporate sponsorships, and community engagement, this initiative will set a new benchmark for inclusive cultural programming in Lagos and Africa at large.
Lagos Cultural Mission….Preserving Our Heritage, Advancing The Future
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