The Izon Cultural Heritage Centre (ICHC) has expressed concern over recent comments attributed to Dr. Shola Mese, who claims to represent the Olu of Itsekiri in matters relating to the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
In a statement, ICHC emphasized that the Amnesty Programme is a federal initiative, designed to address the needs of its documented 30,000 beneficiaries across the Niger Delta, without ethnic or sectional bias. It is not under the authority of the Itsekiri Traditional Rulers Council nor the Olu of Itsekiri.
The organisation described attempts by traditional authorities or their proxies to influence PAP operations as inappropriate and potentially destabilizing, stressing that the programme’s mandate remains on the empowerment, reintegration, and welfare of its registered beneficiaries.
The ICHC also condemned recent remarks by Dr. Mese, who alleged that PAP under Administrator Dr. Dennis Otuaro is biased against the Itsekiri people. The Centre described these claims as false and intended to stir ethnic tensions, clarifying that the current reintegration phase operates strictly on the existing beneficiary lists, which include Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo, Isoko, and other communities.
The statement further clarified that there is no official ethnic liaison position within the PAP Office and that claims of a Sole Itsekiri Representative are not recognized. ICHC reiterated that the programme is a Niger Delta-wide peace instrument, not an ethnic bargaining tool for palace politics.
Apostle Bodmas Kemepadei, ICHC leader, reaffirmed confidence in Dr. Dennis Otuaro’s leadership, noting his commitment to inclusivity, fairness, and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The ICHC concluded that the PAP belongs to the entire Niger Delta, and its continuity and success require unity, not division.
