News
2027: Otuaro Backs Tinubu’s Re-election, Urges Niger Deltans to Align with APC South-South Leaders Endorsement
By Divine Perezide
The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro (PhD.), has called on the people of the Niger Delta to throw their weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. Speaking in Abuja, Otuaro hailed the unanimous endorsement of President Tinubu by the South-South leaders of the APC, describing it as a strategic move to secure sustainable development.
He praised Tinubu’s visible commitment to the region through landmark legislations, infrastructure, and funding.
Otuaro highlighted projects like the Lagos-Calabar Expressway and the establishment of key federal institutions. He urged youths and PAP beneficiaries not to be swayed by divisive politicians ahead of the 2027 polls.
According to him, only a listening leader like Tinubu can continue delivering progress to the Niger Delta.
Otuaro said that what the South South APC leaders and the governors did was the right way to reward a sincere and committed leader who has shown in practical terms his love for the region and the people.
Leaders of the APC in Edo, Delta, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States in collaboration with other members of the party in the south south zone had met in Benin on July 5, 2025 where they unanimously endorsed President Tinubu for a second term in office.
Otuaro noted that the President has proved beyond doubt his love and dedication to the affairs and development of the Niger Delta through strategic appointments, initiation of big-ticket projects, establishment of agencies and adequate funding of existing ones.
Otuaro said that the Niger Delta and indeed the South South has faired well under the well-implemented Renewed Hope Agenda of the President.
He argued that a President who signed into law the bills establishing the Maritime University, Okerenkoroko; the Federal University of Environment and Technology in Ogoniland, the South South Development Commission, and intensified support for the NDDC and the PAP, means well for the region and deserved the peoples support in return.
Otuaro further said, “His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has not hidden his intention to develop the South South and the Niger Delta, which explains why he has given this level of attention to the Lagos-Calabar Expressway.
“I urge the South South and the Niger Delta people to embrace the informed position of the APC leaders to sustain the region in the position to attract more development through a listening leader.
“I also advise the youths of the region and delegates of the Presidential Amnesty Programme not to allow themselves to be used by politicians with intentions inimical to the interest of the Niger Delta.
“I know that many will soon besiege our streets with their deceptive antics out of desperation for votes.
“We all can attest to what the President has done, and we are informed enough to know who is sincere with the desired development of our region.
“What this President deserves is our continued support and contribution to his reelection in 2027.”
By Daire Pere-ebi
Things happen everyday, and some are terrifying. Tale of hardship, moshaps, joy, goodwill, etcetera. But what if you’re told that in a tale of extraordinary endurance and resilience, British couple Maurice and Maralyn Baily survived nearly four months adrift in the Pacific Ocean after their yacht was fatally struck by a whale in 1973.
The couple had set out on a dream journey across the Pacific, having sold their home in England to embrace a life of seafaring adventure. Their voyage aboard a 31-foot yacht, Auralyn, took a devastating turn in Mar h 1973 as they sailed westward from Panama, near the Galapagos Islands.
In the early morning hours, a sperms whale collided with yacht, tearing open the hull. Within minutes, the Auralyn was beyond saving. The Baileys escaped into a small inflatable raft and dinghy, managing to retrieve a few essential items – some canned food, fishing gear, a compass, and a solar still. With no radio or emergency beacon, they were cast into one of the most remote parts of the Pacific, with little hope of immediate rescue.
What followed was an unimaginable 118-day survival ordeal. The Baileys battled the searing tropical sun, saltwater scores, dehydration, and hunger. They relied on collected rainwater for hydration and fashioned rudimentary tools from safety pins and yacht remnants to catch fish, turtles, and even birds. Their bodies withered from malnutrition, their clothing deteriorated, and their nights were filed with uncertainty as distant ships passed them by, unaware of their desperate situation.
Despite the hardship, the couple remained committed to surviving together. Climbing to each other through frigid nights and burning days, they pushed through the extremes of isolation and physical suffering.
Salvation finally came on June 30, 1973, when a South Korean fishing vessel spotted them and pulled them aboard. The Baileys, frail and emaciated but alive, were taken to Hawaii for recovery.
Their harrowing experience, later detailed in their memoir 117 Days Adrift, drew international attention and became a symbol of unbreakable human spirit.
Remarkably, the trauma of their ordeal did not deter them from the sea—they returned to sailing, their passion unshaken by the vast ocean that once nearly claimed their lives.
The Baileys’ story remains one of the most compelling sagas of survival ever recorded, a testament to courage, love, and sheer willpower against the unforgiving forces of nature.
By Favour Bibaikefie
Abuja, Nigeria – In a commendable display of appreciation, ‘Gen.’ Dennis Kpaidia, leader of the Tantita Odimodi Unit, has lauded the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro (PhD.), for his unwavering commitment to peacebuilding and leadership development in the Niger Delta.
This follows the commencement of a three-day day intensive training programme on Peacebuilding, Leadership, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Mediation, organised by the PAP in collaboration with the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Abuja.
The training, held in the Federal Capital Territory, brought together selected youth and community leaders from various communities across the Iger Delta. The initiative forms part of the reintegration phase of the Amnesty Programme, aimed at equipping key stakeholders with tools for the effective leadership, dialogue, and nonviolent conflict resolution in order to forestall imminent intercommunity crisis.
Speaking to IduwiniVoice, Kpaidia expressed profound gratitude to Dr. Otuaro over what he described as a “visionary leadership style that prioritizes the growth and peaceful coexistence of the region.”He noted that such training sessions are vital in deepening participants’ understanding of conflict dynamics and in strengthening local structures for sustainable peace.
“This training has opened our eyes to new methods of resolving disputes peacefully and building consensus in our communities. I thank Chief Dr. Otuaro for investing in our future of the Niger Delta youth and for giving us the tolls to lead rightly.” Kaidia State.
The peacebuilding programme is expected to continue over the next two days, with sessions facilitated by security and conflict resolution experts, mediators, and development professionals from both civil and military backgrounds.
As the region continues its journey towards lasting peace and sustainable development, initiatives like this stand out as evidence of the evolving impact of the Presidential Amnesty Programme under Dr. Otuaro’s stewardship.
News
PAP: Amnesty Boss Partners Nigerian Army, Lauches Leadership, Mediation Training for Niger Delta Peacebuilding
By Divine Perezide
Abuja, Nigeria – July 2025:
In a decisive step towards enhancing leadership effectiveness and deepening peace efforts in the Niger Delta, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Chief Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, has flagged off a three-day intensive training session in Abuja.
The programme, organised in partnership with the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), is taking place at the NARC complex in Asokoro and is tailored to empower key stakeholders from the Niger Delta with strategic peacebuilding.
Themed “Leadership, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Mediation, ” the training seeks to develop the knowledge, skills, and Attitudes (KSAs) required for participants to play active roles in conflict management and community-level Mediation. The initiative is expected to strengthen the leadership capacity of participants while promoting sustainable peace and social harmony in the region.
Speaking on the essence of the initiative, officials of the Amnesty Programme noted that the training reflects the renewed focus of Chief Dr. Otuaro’s administration on community empowerment and the the prevention of conflict through dialogue and nonviolent engagement.
“This programme is a vital step in building responsible, proactive leadership within the Niger Delta,” a PAP spokesperson remarked. “It’s about equipping our people not just with skills, but with the mindset to foster peace and drive development.”
The training also underscores the Amnesty Office’s commitment to broadening the scope of post-conflict reintegration efforts beyond economic development by institutionalizing community-driven peace strategies.
Participants included community leaders, youth influences, and stakeholders drawn from various Niger Delta communities who are expected to return home with practical tools to mediate disputes and foster collaboration.
The initiative aligns with PAP’s broader vision to consolidate peace gains and stimulate economic development through a culture of dialogue, leadership accountability, and conflict transformation.