By Thomas Peretu
It’s almost a year since Prof. Charles Quaker Dokubo was eased out of office as the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. A very laudable programme it is, if you ask me given the obvious gains accrual to the nation.
The government did not adduce or advance any reason for Prof. Dokubo’s suspension. Indeed, the government does not owe us (we the faithful tax payers of this nation) any explanation or apology? Not even those of us from that axis.
Be that as it may, it was however, clear that the body was embroiled in unnecessary and needless controversies fueled by internal and external wrangling. Though that’s beside the point here.
As an interventionist project, the organisation was established by the Federal Government in 2009 at the height of the regional insurgency and brigandage.
Its mandate, at the time was to curb the spate of wanton destruction of pipelines and flow stations occasioned by youth restiveness and militancy in the Niger Delta region. The body rose to the occasion by restoring peace and cohesion in the creeks.
Do i need to reiterate that there has been some palpable measure of sanity in the area since the introduction of the amnesty programme? It was a novel idea, though not totally new in similar regions of the world.
Whether the body has successfully implemented its mandate is a different kettle of fish. That is a matter for another day. But suffice it to say, the agency has brought some level peace and stability to bear in the region.
Without mincing words, i daresay that the absence of an administrator has stalled the effective management of the organisation; so many responsibilities are kept on hold especially as regards the training of the ex-militants.
The agency, if you must know has not been able to meet its obligations to its contractors. The outfit may suffer some reversal of fortune, if adequate steps are not taken to halt the present slide towards precipice.
There’s no gainsaying that the concentric wheel of the organisation is at a standstill as her activities are kept in view until a substantive head is appointed. The situation is made more precarious by the incursion of the corona virus to our daily lives.
Hence, the urgent need to appoint a suitable replacement for the suspended egghead can not be overemphasised.
It is my candid opinion that the Federal Government and indeed the office of the National Security Adviser should consider the appointment of a high ranking retired military officer to fill the vacuum created by the exit of the former Coordinator.
Such a person, i suggest, should be a freshly retired military officer with cognate experience in infantry field command or in the education corp. His record of service to motherland must be unblemished.
He must display a clean bill of health for all to appreciate. The candidate must be conversant with the macro economics dynamics of the nation as well as her socio-political equilibrium.
We have tried a research scholar, and the results have been less cheery, now is the time to throw our weights behind a military general, whose natural forte it is to lead and inspire a troop of men.
We’ve had enough of the sleaze buckets. And enough of the cosmetic approach to a rather malignant regional calamity. The sanctity of the region must override every other parochial cleavages and affinities. We must collective stop this travesty.
The candidate of my choice should demonstrate at all times the mantra of selfless leadership. He must show more than a casual interest in the manpower development of the ex-militants and ex-agitators.
At this point, we do not need an obtrusive individuals with ignoble records. Men with hitchy fingers should stay away, irrespective of their political affiliations. We are sure to do well with men of integrity, accountability, passion, and transparency.
We need highly principled men with exemplary leadership characters. The ideal candidate must have a good understanding of the environmental challenges of the Niger Delta region including issues of sustainable development of the area.
Come to think of it, the consequences of appointing a miss fit to occupy such a sensitive position is better imagined than experienced. Trust me.
It is neccessary to state that the National Youth Service Corp, a parallel organisation is administered by a military officer. So far, the agency is being managed effectively. There is absolutely nothing wrong if we borrow a leaf from NYSC.
Some critics may argue and rightly too that a military officer once held sway in the agency. What was the outcome? That, the officer was politely excused from the office, does not mean we should not engage the services of another military general. Afterall, all officers are not configured or wired in the same fashion. There are men of integrity marooned behind the veil of society. Fish them out.
Kindly allow me to be a bit selfish, if you will; the next Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme should be an indigene of Bayelsa State. If you recall, Bayelsa State was the epicentre of militancy and the emancipation struggles in the past. Our people have suffered untold hardship as a result of the activities of oil companies. We deserve a better deal.
It is expedient and very necessary too that the vacuum created by the suspension of the erstwhile Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Quaker Dokubo be filled with a retired military officer for a better as well as a more professional coordination of the body. Let’s avoid an impending reversal of the gains accumulated over the past few years.
The time to appoint a quintessential leader to direct the affairs of the agency is now. The office of the National Security Agency must kick start the process so that the person may consolidate on the past achievements of the body.
…Peretu wrote in from Bayelsa State.
