The leaders, under the aegis of the Environmental Rights Advocates Organisation of Niger Delta (ERAOND), described the planned protest over unpaid stipends as uncalled for.
Ex-militant leaders from the nine states of the Niger Delta region have faulted the planned protest by some aggrieved beneficiaries of the amnesty programme against the coordinator, Professor Charles Dokubo, over alleged corrupt practices.
The leaders, under the aegis of the Environmental Rights Advocates Organisation of Niger Delta (ERAOND), described the planned protest over unpaid stipends as uncalled for.
A message issued on Thursday to newsmen in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, and signed by the leader of the group, Chief Reuben Wilson, General Godgift Ayabowei, General Ezikiel Akpasibowei and Alex Watchman, called on those involved in the planned protest to have a change of heart and withdraw the plan against the amnesty office.
The statement read: "It is unfair and unhealthy for us to be protesting against our own. We should learn to be our brothers' keeper. We call on those involved to cancel the protest and not rubbish the good work of the Amnesty office.
"The amnesty office under Professor Charles Dokubo has been attending promptly to payment of stipends. We have not seen what he has done wrong to deserve the planned embarrassment. He has shown that he has a listening hear to all that is affecting the amnesty beneficiaries. "
“The Amnesty office has been showing love to beneficiaries and the planned protest is uncalled for. Our people should learn from our past mistakes."
A group, who referred to themselves as the Coalition of Niger Delta Militants, last week, demanded the sack of the coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo, over alleged corrupt practices.
The coalition vowed to commence a massive protest in Abuja and the Niger Delta region in order to force the removal of the amnesty boss and his alleged cohorts from office.