NDLF Disowns Viral Petition Against PAP Boss Otuaro

Surviving members of the defunct Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF) have distanced themselves from a viral petition purportedly written in the name of the group against the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro.

The group described the petition as fake and denied authorising any individual to write or submit a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) accusing Otuaro of diverting a non-existent N50 million contract.

The NDLF spokesman, Capt. Mark Anthony, made the position known in a statement, saying the petition was allegedly signed by an individual using the name “Akpos Oweikeme,” whom the group described as a fictitious secretary.

According to Anthony, “Our attention has been drawn to a viral online report that the NDLF disbanded fighters, under a fake secretary who goes by the fake name Akpos Oweikeme, had signed a petition against the Federal Government Amnesty Programme Chairman, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, and submitted it to the office of the ICPC.

“The petition accused the respected leader of diverting a non-existent contract running into N50 million. NDLF is not a corporate organisation and we did not have the position of a secretary while we were in the creeks, and we do not have one now.”

The group said its members remained on good terms with the PAP coordinator, stressing that they would not engage in what it described as frivolous activities against Otuaro, whom it regarded as a benefactor.

The NDLF also warned individuals allegedly using its name to blackmail or extort political office holders to desist from such activities.

“We want to warn those desperate Niger Delta youths who go about blackmailing top political office holders to desist from using the name of the late John Togo group for their dubious activities,” the statement added.

The group further appealed to Nigerians to disregard the petition, describing Otuaro as a good leader and expressing satisfaction with his leadership of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

“We therefore warn and distance ourselves from such fake petitioners who use fake identities to drag us into their desperate fight against the highly performing PAP boss, Dr. Dennis Otuaro,” the statement said.