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Tag: Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF)

  • Clark tackles Osoba for denigrating Confab Report

    Ijaw national leader and the convener of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, on Wednesday joined issues with former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba for allegedly denigrating the agitation for the restructuring of Nigeria.

    Clark, in a statement circulated in Warri described attempts by Osoba to promote the El-Rufai Committee Report above the 2014 National Conference as uncharitable.

    He said suggesting the replacement of the Confab Report with a committee report was equivalent to sacrificing national interest on the altar of partisan politics.

    Clark, who opened his statement, titled: “Chief Segun Osoba at 80; and the question of Restructuring”, by congratulating Osoba for turning 80, before going on to reflect on his comment at public presentation of Osoba’s autobiography, recalled that the former Ogun governor was part of the process that produced the 2014 National Conference Report.

    He added that the call for restructuring, which he said was primarily targeted at giving true federalism proper attention and eventually allowed in Nigeria, has always been a topical issue in the country.

    According to him, as a senior citizen with unfettered access to President Muhammadu Buhari, he (Osoba) “is expected to lend his voice to achieving the adoption of the confab report by the government.

    “I read Chief Osoba’s comments, during the launch of his book, titled: ‘Battlelines: Adventures in Journalism and Politics’, to mark his 80th birthday, he was reported to have described ‘those shouting Restructuring should realize that the power rests with the National Assembly.

    “We have to rearrange our system. The El-Rufai report should be sent to the National Assembly. If anybody thinks Buhari can change anything by decree, it is not possible

    “Unfortunately, It is most uncharitable of Chief Osoba to refer to the agitators of the question of restructuring, in such a shabby manner. Chief Osoba should be reminded that, most of the people who have congregated under the Southern and Middle Belt Forum (SMBLF) were members of the 2014 National Conference of which he was a very active member.

    “The National Conference which comprised 492 Nigerians drawn from all walks of life made over 600 recommendations. The Conference is aware that, there are parts of the report that could only be achieved by means of executive decisions.

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    “There are aspects of the report that must necessarily pass through the National Assembly that will give rise to constitutional amendments or writing a new Constitution, altogether.

    “The National Confab, in anticipating this latter scenario, went a step further to provide a draft Constitution, reflecting the aims, aspirations, principles, spirit and letter of the  National Conference, which was submitted to Government.

    “Chief Osoba is aware that, true federalism, a byword of the subject of restructuring, has always been a part and parcel of our evolution process.

    “The Afenifere of the Southwest to which Chief Osoba belongs, and represented at the National Conference, do not believe that it is the so called El Rufai Committee that would deliver a restructured Nigeria, other than the 2014 Confab Report.

    “By his level and pedigree, it was not expected of Chief Osoba to now advise President Muhammad Buhari to send  the El-Rufai Report  to the National Assembly, reducing this all important subject of Restructuring to a mere political-orientated El-Rufai Committee report, which was hurriedly produced on the eve of the 2019 elections, to hoodwink unsuspecting Nigerians.

    “There is nothing in the El Rufai report which is not contained in the 2014 National conference. There was every opportunity for the government of PMB to present the El Rufai Report, culled and doctored from the 2014 Conference Report,  to National Assembly, before the 2019 election…”

  • Your sincerity to conduct free, fair and credible elections in doubt, Clark tells INEC

    Ijaw national leader and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has raised questions about the sincerity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free, fair and credible 2019 elections.

    Chief Clark, who is also the leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), who spoke after reading from a letter addressed to the Chairman of the INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to journalists in his Kiagbodo country home on Wednesday, raised questions about the manner and timing of the postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections last Saturday, as well as matters surrounding the commission’s contractor saddled with the responsibility of producing election sensitive materials.

    According to him, the INEC chairman had not done a good job answering some of the questions posed to him since he called off the elections last weekend, adding that the chief elections umpire stills, among other things, to explain to Nigerians and the world what the commission is still doing with a card-carrying member of the ruling party as its contractor, producing materials for an election himself and other members of his party would take part in.

    “On Saturday during the meeting with all the stakeholders, questions were being asked and he said they almost slept at the airport in Abuja because the weather was unfavourable, I should have agreed with you saying it also happened to me but the minister for aviation faulted INEC chairman that the weather was favourable and clear.

    Read also: Elections: FG declares Friday public holiday, excludes bankers

    “He further went on that the airport operations were directed to work for 24hours, so one has been wondering what happened. Then the national chairman of the APC asked series of questions, but unfortunately, he did not give all the answers to the questions Oshiomhole asked.

    “But worse still, the PDP representative, asked the chairman that there is a man that is an APC card carrier and is contesting a senatorial position in Niger State, the answer was, yes, the man works with us satisfactory since 2011.

    “At that junction, I decided to put something down which should come out before Saturday. I was one of those active members who took on this man in 2015 when there was contest between Jonathan and the present President Buhari.

    “There are questions that need to be answered. If the two major candidates are condemning INEC, who then gave the order to INEC to act? That means there must be something missing. But he has assured us that the elections will be free, fair and credible, so I’m not suggesting that the elections will not be free, fair and credible if Nigerians actually.

    “We have been told that it is a process, it does not start overnight on Saturday, manipulation of election starts with the preparation of the election. It could be two years ago. If this man is working for them, and is a member of the APC, do you not believe that he must have done something to favour the APC? It is morally unjustifiable and that.

    “Having regard to all these, it will be very difficult to say that the election will be free, fair and credible”, he said.

  • PANDEF, IYC condemn Police raid on Clark’s residence

    …Group issues 48-hour ultimatum to F.G to explain action

     

    Condemnation has continued to trail the reported storming of the Asokoro, Abuja home of Ijaw national leader and convener of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark.

    Chief Clark’s home was reportedly ransacked on Tuesday by men of the Nigeria Police, allegedly on the instructions of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris.

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    Condemning what it described as a humiliation and traumatization of the 91-year old former Federal Commissioner of Information, PANDEF, in a statement issued by its National Secretary, Dr Alfred Mulade, gave the federal government a 48-hour ultimatum to provide an explanation to the action of the police.

    “PANDEF condemns this very barbaric act which is tantamount to state terrorism and total disregard for his fundamental human rights and complete  disregard for established  traditional respect for age and national  service.

    “PANDEF insists that Chief EK Clark remains a symbol of our national unity and a leading voice in our search for equity, fairness and justice.  PANDEF therefore strongly condemns this unwarranted   action against one of the country’s leading statesmen by the Nigerian Police.

    “We hereby   call on the Federal  Government  to thoroughly investigate and offer  explanation,  within  the next  48 hours, this barbaric action against one of the fathers of this nation, in such a brazing manner,” said.

    In its own reaction, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the security agencies to order before they plunged the nation into an irreversible crisis, even as it called on all other relevant stakeholders in the Nigerian project to come to the aid of the country.

    According to a statement signed by its President, Oweilaemi Pereotubo, democracy cannot survive without opposing views, noting that a person of Chief Clark’s status and contribution to the Nigerian project should not be expected to be cowed I to silence when he has views to express.

    “Relevant stakeholders need to rise in defence of our hard earned democracy. President Buhari should call his overbearing security agencies to order before they plunge the country into an unmitigated crisis. There can be no democracy where there is no dissent voice.

    “Mr. President should accept that our democracy cannot exist without opposition elements to his government. Chief Clarke is an elder statesman, his views on national issues needs to be appreciated by the government of the day instead of being witch hunting,” said.

  • Cattle colonies: No Niger Delta land will be used for such – PANDEF

    Cattle colonies: No Niger Delta land will be used for such – PANDEF

    The South-South region of the country has frontally rejected the proposed cattle colonies being proposed by the federal government as its solution to the herdsmen menace, saying no land in the region would be available for such.

    Leaders, elders, opinion molders, traditional rulers and political leadership of the region, at a conference held on the platform of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum ( PANDEF ), in the country home of Ijaw national Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, in Kiagbodo, Burutu council area of Delta state yesterday, reached the conclusion.

    Besides the rejection of federal government’s cattle colonies plan, the conference also frowned at the continued neglect of the oil-rich region by the current administration, particularly the refusal of government to address the 16-point demand presented to it since November 2016.

    The conference, which was chaired by the Convener of the PANDEF, Chief Edwin Clark, expressed solidarity with the people and government of Benue state over the bloody New Year day massacre, reportedly carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen, to which more than 70 lives were lost.

    It, however, advised the federal government to handle the festering Fulani herdsmen’s issue as a delicate one, admonishing further that the issue of livestock farming should be situated in the commercial realm where it belongs.

    “Expressed solidarity with the people of Benue State and other parts of the country where communities have suffered untold menace and brutality in the hands of Fulani herdsmen.

    Rejected the idea of setting up Cattle Colonies around the country and advised the federal government to handle this sensitive matter with tact and treat the issue of animal husbandry as commercial transaction which should be left in the hands of relevant stakeholders.

    Emphasized that no Niger Delta land will be available for such cattle colonies”, the conference said.

    On the situation of things in the region, besides the displeasure expressed on the refusal of government to attend to issues concerning the region, it also called for the sustenance of the Amnesty Programme, which it said had the capacity to keep the region peaceful.

    “Noted with concern the slow pace with which the Federal Government continues to handle matters pertaining to the Niger Delta, especially the implementation of the 16-point agenda submitted since the 1st of November 2016.

    “Condemned, in particular, the continued refusal of international and national oil companies to show presence in the Niger Delta, including moving their operational and administrative offices to the region. Noted also with, grave concern, the continued delay in the completion of the East-West road and the underfunding of its implementation.

    “Expressed worry over the fact that plans are being concluded to issue licenses to modular refineries without corresponding participation from stakeholders in the Niger Delta region.

    This notwithstanding, calls on various Niger Delta peoples and communities, especially, the youths and various aggrieved groups to continue to exercise patience and allow PANDEF and its other political leaders to continue dialogue with the federal Government.

    “Calls on Niger Delta Political leaders and leadership of intervention agencies such as NDDC, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to show greater accountability in managing resources allocated for various programmes.

    “Reaffirms its confidence that the Presidential Amnesty Programme is a veritable tool for maintaining peace in the region. Took decision to send high delegation to the FG to discuss issues pertaining to the Amnesty programme and its continuation”, the conference concluded.

  • Clark-led PANDEF has lost focus, says ex-IYC boss

    Clark-led PANDEF has lost focus, says ex-IYC boss

    Ijaw youth leader and immediate past President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, Wednesday, said the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) led by Chief Edwin Clark had lost focus.

    Speaking in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Eradiri said though the forum was able to set the pace and part of the Niger Delta agenda, it derailed and lost the confidence of the people of the region.

    He insisted that the group became an embarrassment and a disgrace to region adding that President Muhammadu Buhari did not need the PANDEF to develop the Niger Delta.

    Eradiri said:  ”We have lost confidence in PANDEF. We no longer believe in them. I was part of those that brought up the idea when the government said they did not know whom to talk to in the region.

    ” We agreed to come together as one, hence we established PANDEF. But unfortunately, PANDEF has now lost focus. They are now talking about constitution and leadership. They have women’s wing, youths’ wing and others.

    ”At every point that we strive to make progress, we are the same persons to scatter it. Everyone is seeking audience. Let those elders go and rest, particularly Clark. We have no elders to report to; they want to be the rulers, owning the power.

    “They seek to overthrow the IYC and all others. They want to be the leaders all because of the selfish gains they want to derive. PANDEF has lost its usefulness. The group is becoming an embarrassment and a disgrace to the Niger Delta. ”

    Eradiri also declared that some external forces were behind the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and its recent threat to resume hostilities in the region.

    He noted that the Federal Government was aware of the entire scheme, which he said was orchestrated by agents of destruction with the desire to make money from the system.

    He knocked the government for its approach in handling the agitations of the militant group and explained that violent agitations were a product of long years of underdevelopment, neglect, lack of equity, insincerity other challenges facing the Niger Delta.

    The former IYC boss said that he never believed in violent agitation, but the government had made it the only language it understands in the country.

    To stop further agitation, he said the government needed to demonstrate more commitment and seriousness in addressing the causes of agitations.

    Eradiri said: ”The government is not serious. All they want to do is blackmail some persons politically and dent people’s images.  I am from this area and I know how it works. All I want is for everything to hear better.

    ”I believe and I know that these Avengers’ stuff and threats are external. They are fueled by external forces; people who just want to disrupt things are behind it. Their thinking is that money will come out it through negotiation. Even the government knows about it. It is all about destabilising things and stealing money from system.

    ”My advice to the youth is that they should continue to agitate. Yes, the only language that they understand is constant agitation. If they did not agitate, the Amnesty budget, you remember I was shouting,  it was N20bn down from N56bn.

    ”When the youth started agitation, it was moved to N35bn and now it is over N50bn, with they (Amnesty operators) now have money to pay school fees and all of that. They were also shouting about the Niger Delta Ministry budget, now the government has increased it.

    “When agitation started, we shouted about the Maritime University, they said they were going to kick off, now I am hearing President Muhammadu Buhari has approved N5bn in the new budget. So, if there is no agitation, will they do all these? So, let the youth agitate. Government, wake up to your responsibility.”

    Speaking on the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF), Eradiri said PANDEF had lost focus and outlived its usefulness.

    He insisted that the Federal Government did not need the organisation to address the Niger Delta question.

  • Police, DSS seal off venue of PANDEF’s Assembly in Port Harcourt

    Police, DSS seal off venue of PANDEF’s Assembly in Port Harcourt

    Fully armed policemen and operatives of the Department of State Services ( DSS ), early morning today, sealed off Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, Rivers State’s venue of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum’s ( PANDEF ) General Assembly, allegedly because of security threat.

    Also sealed were all the roads leading to the five-star hotel, owned by the Rivers state government, with the accredited delegates from all the nine crude oil and gas-rich states stranded.

    After waiting for many hours at the hotel’s entrance, with none of the security personnel ready to speak, it was gathered through the telephone from one of the leaders of PANDEF, who would not want his name in print, that PANDEF’s leader, Chief Edwin Clark, 90, who arrived Port Harcourt on Tuesday and lodged in Hotel Presidential, is currently presiding over an emergency meeting of some of the leaders the forum inside the hotel.

    The source disclosed that at the end of the meeting, a communique would be issued, in order to know the next line of action.

    PANDEF’s general assembly in Port Harcourt that was aborted by security personnel, was to elect officers of the forum at the national, states and local governments, as well as elect members of PANDEF’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Advisory Committee and ratify the constitution of the forum, among others, with PANDEF said by its leaders at Monday’s news conference in Port Harcourt to be on the same level with Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).

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  • Quit Notice: Clark-Led PANDEF calls on agitators to rescind threat

    Quit Notice: Clark-Led PANDEF calls on agitators to rescind threat

    The Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called on the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators to rescind its threat to commence destruction of oil and gas facilities as well as the quit notice to the Yoruba and Northerners resident in the oil-rich region.

    The call, which was contained in a statement issued and circulated to journalists in Warri yesterday by the PANDEF’s Coordinating Secretary, Dr Alfred Mulade, noted that the call and threat by the agitators were not viable options, especially as the body was already making progress in its peaceful approach.

    According to the statement, the PANDEF, led by Ijaw national Leader and elder statesman, Chief Clark, had in recent times engaged the federal government on critical issues concerning the peace and stability of the region, including the items raised on the famed 16-point agenda and most recently, on the issue of the appointments at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which had grossly marginalised the interest of the Niger Delta people.

    Assuring the restive agitators of the possibilities of the alternative peaceful approach, which it said its team had been working on, in conjunction with stakeholders from other regions of the country, the PANDEF, therefore urged them to rescind their threats and remain calm as all efforts to achieve restructuring and ultimate peace bring fruits forward.

    “We are also asking the Federal Government to revisit the various appointments recently made in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and all its subsidiaries, whereby Niger Deltans are grossly marginalized and excluded. Almost all the NNPC Board members,
    top and middle levels appointment are being held by northerners.

    “Of particular note now, are the recently made 55 appointments, for which we have made a strong case to government, for a reversal. This issue has been sufficiently addressed by our National Leader, Chief Dr. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, and published in two pages, in the Vanguard
    Newspaper of Wednesday, September 6, 2017.

    “Destruction of oil and gas assets and quit notice to northerners and Yorubas to vacate the region and threat of secession are not viable options. PANDEF is at the forefront of the advocacy of restructuring of this country, as the most viable alternative which is being pursued with all vigour, in collaboration with the South-West, South-East, the Middle-Belt and some prominent personalities from the Northern parts of this country.

    “PANDEF therefore urges the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators to rescind their threats of destruction, quit notice and secession, to remain calm, patient and patriotic, as we re-double our efforts towards the peaceful resolution of the challenges in the region, including the restructuring of the country along the lines of fiscal federalism,” the statement said.

  • Quit Notice: So-called militant groups don’t exist – Clark

    Quit Notice: So-called militant groups don’t exist – Clark

    Ijaw national leader and convener of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, has dismissed the groups who gave the October 1, 2017 quit notice to Yoruba and northerners resident in the South-South as nonexistent.

    In a telephone chat with the Nation in Warri Friday, Chief Clark who said all Nigerians had the freedom to live in any part of the country, as Nigeria is just one country, said those who gave the ultimatum had nobody’s mandate and had no such authority to give such quit notice to anyone.

    According to the elder statesman, he was one of the very first Nigerians to condemn the Arewa youths who issued an ultimatum to Indigbo earlier, saying that there was no way he could have permitted such action to take place in his own region.

    While he vehemently cautioned those behind the quit notice to desist and withdraw the ultimatum, Chief Clark advised the Yoruba and northerners resident in the Niger Delta to continue to live peacefully in the region.

    “I’ve already made a statement on that issue when Afenifere contacted me. Somebody represented me and I made a statement. As far as I’m concerned, Nigeria is our country, therefore anybody who is a Nigerian is free to live in any part of Nigeria. We even allow non-Nigerians to live in Nigeria, to do businesses of their choice.

    “Therefore, if we have one country, we cannot prevent anybody from living in any part of the country. I’ve already advised those who made that statement to withdraw it, besides they have no authority from anybody; no elder not even PANDEF.

    “The South-South, I mean PANDEF, has been having meetings with the Yoruba, the Indigbo and the people of the Middle-Belt in Lagos and Abuja, therefore we cannot say we don’t want the Yoruba or northerners.

    “I was one of the first people to condemn the quit notice by the Arewa youths, why will I allow such a thing in my territory. Nobody knows those boys; they are just arrogating the powers they don’t have to themselves so they can’t. Some groups have done that before, we advised them and they backed down.

    “The point I’m making is that all groups, including northerners, are welcome in the Niger Delta and that those people who made those threats have no authority from anybody, they don’t even exist and wherever they are we advised them in their own interest to withdraw their statement, if the do exist at all. But whether they do or not, they have no authority from anybody.

    “We the people in the Niger Delta; the elders, the women and the youths, welcome the Yoruba and northerners. Nobody knows those names in the newspapers. Let them come out to meet us, make their statement. They don’t exist”, Chief Clark said.

  • N’Delta: youths knock Ijaw elders for withdrawing ultimatum

    N’Delta: youths knock Ijaw elders for withdrawing ultimatum

    …Warn militants against resumption of hostilities

     

    Ijaw youths, Saturday, faulted their elders and members of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) for their decision to withdraw an ultimatum they earlier have to the Federal Government to resume dialogue with them.

    The youths under the auspices of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide also warned militants groups against resuming hostilities in the region.

    The Eric Omare-led IYC, in a statement, insisted that dialogue and not hostilities remained the best approach to resolving knotty issues of development in the region.

    “We call on militant groups in the Niger Delta region threatening renewed hostilities to exercise restraint to still give room for peaceful resolution of the Niger Delta question.

    “It is the inconsistent posture and lack of sincerity on the part of the Federal Government towards resolving the issues that has led to agitators running out of patience and threatening to resume hostilities. However, we strongly believe that dialogue remains the best option towards resolving the issues”.

    Omare, however, said it was hasty for members of PANDEF led by the King Alfred Diete-Spiff to have withdrawn their ultimatum after meeting with the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo.

    He said the IYC believed that mere promise of dialogue and briefing on progress made with PANDEF’s 16-point demand by the government was not enough for the elders to call off their ultimatum.

    He said the only dialogue that would solve the problems of the region permanently must be centered around restructuring to allow the region control its resources.

    He said: “As far as the IYC is concerned the key issue that the federal government needs to dialogue with the Niger Delta people is the question of restructuring with a view to achieving fiscal federalism and resource control.

    “The other issues on the PANDEF 16 points demand does not require a dialogue team between the federal government and the Niger Delta people because they are routine government responsibilities.

    “Our demand for dialogue with the federal government is to primarily address the resource ownership and control question which underpins the Niger Delta struggle over the years.

    “It is only a resolution of the resource ownership question which gives the communities a stake in the natural resources found in their land that would lead to permanent peace in the Niger Delta region.

    “The other issues on the PANDEF 16 point agenda such as take-off of academic activities at the Martime University, construction of East West Road, funding of NDDC, Amnesty programme, Ogoni clean up, etc are only palliatives but not the root cause of the Niger Delta agitation.

    “Therefore, any dialogue between the federal government and the Niger Delta people must be geared toward resolving the resource ownership and control question.

    “We make bold to say that no amount of meeting between federal government and Niger Delta leaders would bring permanent peace to the region without addressing restructuring and the resource ownership question”.