A pressure group, the Watchdog for Progressive Ijaw (WPI) has said the ongoing probe of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) by the House of Representative Committee on Public Account as a mere distraction of PAP’s Interim Administrator, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd).
The group added that the lawmakers had other ulterior motives, which were selfish and not in line with the public interest.
Lambart Olambo, the Coordinator, WPI, said since the proclamation of the programme by the Presidency, the committee had never bothered to probe the financial dealings and activities of past PAP coordinators.
He recalled that stakeholders from the region constantly called for investigations into the activities of past PAP coordinators, who were enmeshed in corruption allegations, but that despite public outcries including street protests against them, the House Committee kept sealed lips.
“We complained. We blocked roads and write petitions against past PAP coordinators, who deviated from the mandate of the programme and allegedly misappropriated funds and were even linked to contract scam, but these lawmakers failed to initiate any probe.
“What has really changed that they have now started probing PAP at a time PAP’s original intent and purpose are being realised by Dikio? Could it be that the current positive change in PAP is negatively affecting the fortunes of the lawmakers,”.
