By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Rivers
The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Chief Dennis Otuaro, has urged former agitators in the Niger Delta to resist being drawn into the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Otuaro cautioned beneficiaries of the PAP against being used as tools for violence amid the constitutional developments in the state.
“The PAP Office urges all ex-agitators and beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme to resist any attempt and overtures by groups or individuals, no matter how highly placed, to draw them into the current situation in Rivers State,” he said.
He emphasized that the Niger Delta region has endured years of instability and warned against actions that could lead to further unrest.
“I am appealing against engaging in violent activities or making yourselves available for acts capable of throwing the Niger Delta region into chaos. You are critical stakeholders and ambassadors of peace. It is your responsibility to safeguard the region’s stability for the safety of our people and their livelihoods,” Otuaro added.
The PAP administrator also warned ex-agitators to be wary of political actors who might seek to manipulate them for selfish gains.
“Some merchants of violence will attempt to exploit the tensions in Rivers State to achieve political gains. Do not allow yourselves to be used as cannon fodders to disrupt the peace,” he cautioned.
Otuaro further appealed to the people of the Niger Delta to protect critical infrastructure in the region, particularly oil and gas installations, to avoid economic sabotage.
“Importantly, I am asking ex-agitators, beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, and the good people of the Niger Delta region not to engage in the destruction of oil and gas facilities or other government assets in the region,” he stressed.
The political crisis in Rivers State has heightened tensions, with concerns over potential violence. However, Otuaro’s call for restraint signals an effort to prevent a relapse into instability in the Niger Delta.