The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro, has hailed the contributions of the traditional ruler of the Okochiri Kingdom in Rivers State, His Royal Majesty, King Ateke Tom, to peace in the Niger Delta

Otuaro was among the prominent guests who graced the colourful 61st birthday celebration of King Ateke at his palace in Okochiri, Okrika local government area on Monday.

The PAP Boss in a statement signed by his special assistant on media, Igoniko Oduma, described the Rivers monarch as “a respectable leader whose reign has brought about unity, peace, progress and development around his community.”

He stressed that King Ateke, who is also the ‘Sekuro of the Niger Delta’, was a great asset who had contributed immensely to the peace, stability, security and development of the region.

Otuaro expressed his utmost regard for the traditional institution and the vital role of traditional rulers in the peace and development of communities in the Niger Delta.

He noted that traditional rulers were among the critical stakeholders that the PAP was collaborating with to strengthen the programme’s peace-building process in the region.

He reiterated that the programme was in safe hands, and strongly motivated by President Bola Tinubu to bridge the region’s human capital development gap through formal education scholarships and vocational training in aviation, maritime, agriculture, and other relevant trade areas.