The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PANDEF

  • PANDEF sets up reconciliation committee over renewed Rivers political crisis

    PANDEF sets up reconciliation committee over renewed Rivers political crisis

    The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has constituted a seven-member reconciliation committee to address the escalating political crisis between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the State House of Assembly.

    The committee is chaired by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN.

    The development followed the Assembly’s initiation of a fresh impeachment process against the governor and his deputy on Thursday.

    In a statement signed by King Alfred Diete-Spiff, Co-Chairman, Board of Trustees; Obong Victor Attah, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Co-Chairman, BOT; and Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali, National Chairman, PANDEF, expressed deep concern over the situation. The group warned that the crisis is troubling and requires urgent intervention to prevent further escalation and a possible breakdown of law and order.

    PANDEF urged all parties to embrace peace and pursue dialogue based on compromise, tolerance, and political balance. The forum also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC leadership, and respected Rivers elders for their previous efforts in stabilising the state’s political environment.

    The Statement read, “The Board and National Executive Committee of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), the apex socio-political body representing the people of the South-South geopolitical zone, notes with very grave concern the recent spate of political developments in Rivers State. Regrettably, these developments have now degenerated into the decision of the Rivers State House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the Governor of the State and the Deputy Governor. 

    “This is a deeply disturbing situation that demands urgent attention in order to forestall further escalation and breakdown of law and order. This concern is heightened by the critical importance and strategic centrality of Rivers State to the Niger Delta region and to the broader socio-political stability and economic well-being of Nigeria as a whole.

    “In keeping with its non-partisan posture and its overarching role as a unifying and motherly platform for the region, PANDEF calls on all parties involved in the resurgent political imbroglio to sheathe the sword and embrace peace, guided by the principles of give-and-take, dialogue, tolerance, and political equanimity. All stakeholders must place paramount importance on peace, development, and the welfare of the people of Rivers State, as well as the interests of other citizens of the South-South, Nigerians at large, and the sizable expatriate community resident in the State. We must now focus squarely on good governance and the development of the state.

    “PANDEF commends President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), respected elders of Rivers State, and other well-meaning Nigerians for their previous and ongoing efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the State.

    “However, in line with its long-standing tradition and proven record in peace-making and peace-building initiatives across the Niger Delta, PANDEF has constituted a high-level team of eminent Nigerians to intervene in the matter.

    “PANDEF calls on all parties to fully cooperate with this distinguished and highly respected team of senior Nigerians and sons and daughters of the South-South zone, as they selflessly commit their time and experience to this arduous assignment, with the objective of achieving a peaceful, fair, and sustainable resolution through a dispassionate and inclusive process.”

    Other members of the committee are: Senator Obende Domingo (Former Senator, Edo North) – Vice Chairman; Rt Hon (Chief) Essien Nduese, (Former Minister of Housing); Dr. Timiebi Koripamo-Agari (Retired Federal Permanent Secretary) – Member; Chief Mike Ejiofor (RTD Director, Department of State Service), Member; Mrs. Nella Rabana-Andem, SAN (Former Attorney-General, Cross River State) – Member; and Prince Godwin Okotie (Deputy National Secretary, PANDEF) – Secretary.

  • PANDEF to Navy: apologise to Wike now

    PANDEF to Navy: apologise to Wike now

    The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called on the Nigerian Navy to immediately tender an unreserved apology to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Chief Nyesom Wike, following Wednesday’s public altercation between the Minister and a junior naval officer, Lt. AM Yerima.

    The National Chairman of PANDEF, Amb. Boladei Igali, who spoke in Port Harcourt on Thursday, condemned the rising social media glamorization of what he described as a grossly improper conduct of a junior naval officer, said to be acting on the orders of a retired service chief.

    Igali said the retired service chief ordinarily ought to know that Wike, who is a member of the Federal Executive Council and a direct representative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over all matters concerning the FCT, deserved his due respect.

    He said, “Chief Wike, without doubt, one of the best performing ministers in this administration, deserves to be treated with much more respect and decorum”.

    The former Federal Permanent Secretary and Diplomat lamented that the unacceptable behaviour of the junior naval officer was not just an affront to the FCT Minister but also an open show of disdain for the office of the President, “whose powers vested in the FCT Minister, was publicly ridiculed”.

    The south-south geopolitical zone leader said: “The Minister of the FCT deserves an unconditional apology from the leadership of the Nigerian Navy on behalf of its former Head and the hapless young officer involved in the horrible spectacle, which is an act outside its core mandate of protecting the territorial integrity of the country.

    Read Also: Controversy widens over Wike, military officer’s clash on land

    “The act of using ordinarily innocent junior military personnel to perform illegal duties like watching over unoccupied personal lands or the like must not be tolerated, irrespective of the self-restraint of the latter.”

    Igali further called on Mr. President to direct the respective security and law enforcement authorities to fully investigate the incident and bring those involved to book.

    “This will preserve the professionalism in the military and guarantee respect for constituted civil authority, which is the most basic foundation for building a stable,  virile democracy where the law rules at all times”, he said.

    Igali insisted that the person of the FCT minister must be fully protected from such overzealousness, as he continued to carry out his assigned duties with personal passion and zeal.

  • Place Southsouth on global map, PANDEF tells SSDC MD

    Place Southsouth on global map, PANDEF tells SSDC MD

    The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has urged the Managing Director of the South South Development Commission (SSDC), Miss Usoro Offiong Akpabio, to place the region on the global map through transformative leadership. 

    In a statement by its Chairman, Godknows Igali, it expressed confidence in her ability to deliver on the assignment given her experience in governance, public policy and community engagement.

    PANDEF congratulated Akpabio and thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for finding her worthy of the job.

    The statement reads in part: “This is a well-deserved appointment. Being the first Managing Director, you have come on the saddle at a most propitious time. 

    “We are hopeful that your tenure will be remembered in the annals of history.

    Read Also: Diri, Lokpobiri, PANDEF, others celebrate Bayelsa monarch at 90

    “We are confident that you would replicate same level of resplendence that Mr. President saw before appointing you, and that your time in this new office will be nothing shy of reforms that would place the South-South region on the global map. 

    “I shall especially not cease to uphold you in prayers for I know with God all things are possible. Please accept the assurances of my very true regards.”

    President Tinubu appointed Akpabio on May 8 pending National Assembly confirmation.

    Her role positions her at the forefront of addressing the developmental challenges facing the Niger Delta region.

    She began her career as a policy analyst in the Akwa Ibom State government.

    A political strategist, she has been involved in governance, public policy and community engagement over the years and was part of the students’ union government in her undergraduate days.

    She has also been involved in project execution and grassroots mobilisation, especially with her foundation in recent years.

  • PANDEF hails Reps oversight committee

    PANDEF hails Reps oversight committee

    The Pan Niger Delta Forum commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, for raising an adhoc oversight committee on the  emergency rule.

    Its National President, Ambassador Godknows Igali, in an open letter, also hailed the appointment of  Professor Julius Ihonvbere as Chairman of the 20-member committee.

     “The restoration of democracy in the state, most importantly through the reinstatement of its duly elected governor, is a mission of national importance – one that must be accomplished without delay,” he said.

    He also urged the committee to reverse some of the actions of the administrator.

    He added: “His decision to cancel or suspend all ongoing procurement processes, ostensibly to implement his own preferred projects and priorities, raises serious concerns about governance integrity and fiscal transparency.”

    Read Also: NNPC unfolds plan to attract $30b investment in 2027

    Lawmaker accuses NBA of hypocrisy

    A member of the House of Representatives from Rivers State, Solomon Bob, accused the NBA of insincerity, hypocrisy and “misguided praetorian pretentions.”

    He urged the association to return the N300 million gift to the administrator.

    The lawmaker said that the NBA does not have “the jurisdictional competence or ethical example to be a barometer for measuring democracy and constitutionalism.”

    He alleged that “the NBA had got itself entangled in a sweetheart deal with Fubara, a quid pro quo, and it was set to use the Port Harcourt conference to whitewash the worst misgovernment of any state in Nigeria.”

    Sakeholders urge Tinubu to lift suspension of Fubara, lawmakers

    A group, the Simplified Queens, appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lift the suspensions of Fubara and the members of the House of Assembly.

    Speaking in Port Harcourt, its Oyigbo Local Government Area Coordinator, Miss Iheoma Nwankwo, said Section 305 of the Constitution does not confer on him the power to suspend the governor and the lawm.

     She said: “Section 305 does not confer on the President the authority to suspend a democratically elected governor or dissolve a state House of Assembly,. Such actions contravene the principles of Federalism and separation of powers as enshrined in the constitution.”

    CSOs petition National Assembly

    A coalition of Civil society organizations(CSOs) in Rivers State has petitioned the National Assembly, over the actions of the administrator.

    In a statement, they accused the administrator of using the federal might and security operatives to intimidate public officers, suppress democratic institutions, and interfere with the proper functioning of government in the state.

    Signatories to the statement are Rivers State Civil Society Organisations(RIVCSO) leader Enefaa Georgewill, Citizens Quest for Truth Initiative Coordinator Marvin Yobana, State chapter of MOSOP chairman Loveday Enyinda, Foundation for Leadership and Youth Initiative leader Mike Daka and  Niger Delta Youth for Peace and Development leader Nwilene John.

  • Fubara denies reports of PANDEF, Obasanjo’s visits

    Fubara denies reports of PANDEF, Obasanjo’s visits

    The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has denied viral reports that a delegation of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and former President Olusegun Obasanjo visited him in Government House at the weekend.

    A statement signed by Fubara’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, said there was a need to debunk the fake news to avoid creating erroneous impressions on the minds of gullible and unsuspecting members of the public.

    The statement said: “For that reason, let it be clarified that there was no such visit by any delegation of PANDEF to Governor Fubara on the said date, neither did Chief Obasanjo visit him as claimed by our detractors. 

    Read Also: El-Rufai and Fubara: Accidental politicians?

    “So, whatever the purveyors of the vexatious narratives are pushing on social media are only the imagination of enemies of the State, who do not want peace, good governance and even development that the present administration has been working hard to bequeath to the present and future generations. 

    “The governor has made it abundantly clear that he would comply and implement to the fullest the judgment of the Supreme Court on the political crisis in the state.  

    “He has already initiated processes to ensure that orders of the Apex Court are implemented, but the Rivers State House of Assembly has refused to cooperate with the Governor to facilitate the resolution of all issues raised by the Court. 

    “As stated earlier, the governor is ready any day, any time to do the needful to ensure the resolution of the issues and smooth functioning of all arms of government in the State.”

  • Rivers crisis: PANDEF threatens to disband peace committee

    Rivers crisis: PANDEF threatens to disband peace committee

    …urges Tinubu to persuade Wike to engage dialogue 

    The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has threatened to dissolve its Peace and Reconciliation Committee if a key figure in the Rivers state political crisis fails to honour its invitation.

    PANDEF warned that withdrawing from mediation efforts could have severe consequences for the state.

    Chairman of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, former Akwa Ibom State Governor Obong Victor Attah, urged President Bola Tinubu to persuade the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to engage in dialogue. 

    Attah emphasised that only through negotiations could a resolution be reached in the ongoing political standoff.

    Speaking to the media in Abuja, Attah explained that the committee deliberately excluded representatives from Rivers state to maintain neutrality. 

    However, despite multiple attempts, the committee has been unable to bring Wike to the negotiation table.

    He reiterated that PANDEF’s mission is to promote peace and development in the region, adding that if reconciliation efforts fail, the forum would have no choice but to disband the committee and withdraw from the mediation process entirely.

    “Our fear, however, is that this could have catastrophic consequences.”

    Read Also: Rivers crisis: Cold war persists between Fubara, lawmakers

    He stressed that the committee was set up.last October “to prevent a full-blown crisis from developing”.

    He explained that the Tuesday, 11th March 2025, visit to the president by the group was to seek his intervention, “that there was a need for him to impress upon the key personalities involved, one of whom is his cabinet minister, the necessity of prioritizing peace.” 

    He added, “We were firm in our resolve that an amicable resolution must be secured. Such a resolution can only be secured by negotiation, hence our setting up of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee.

    “We brought to the attention of Mr. President, the difficulties that we were experiencing in trying to secure the cooperation of his cabinet minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, since all our attempts in the past to meet with the Hon. Minister had been rebuffed.”

    He took exception of the description given to the group by Wike in a recent media chat. 

    He, however, said, “Since the President has thrown the ball back in our court, we intend to bring this impasse to his attention in the firm believe that he can intervene and cause his minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike to come to the negotiation table with PANDEF. 

    “It must be realized that it is not possible to clap with one hand and negotiations can only take place if the parties in dispute agree to make themselves accessible and available.”

    Speaking further on the visit to the president, PANDEF national leader, Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali described as shocking the disparaging comment attributed to FCT minister, especially when the group was working for the overall interest of the region. 

    “Disparaging Comments by the Honourable Minister is, therefore, both shocking and unfortunate that, barely 24 hours after this significant engagement with Mr. President-an engagement that rekindled hope for peace and stability- the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, held a media chat in which he launched an unwarranted and deeply inappropriate attack on PANDE and its leadership.

    “It is, therefore, highly regrettable and totally unacceptable that a serving minister in the Federal Government would exhibit such brazen disrespect towards individuals of this standing. This attitude perhaps explains his continued refusal of the Minister to engage with the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which PANDEF constituted as far back as October 2024, despite repeated attempts to reach.”

    “Notwithstanding this regrettable development, PANDEF remains unwavering in its commitment to peace, stability, and equitable development in the Niger Delta. We will continue to engage with great vigour, all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region,” he concluded. 

    Other members of the Peace and Reconciliation committee include former Military Governor of Kwara State, Col. Pam Ogar (rtd); Senators Emmanuel Ibok Essien, Rowland Owie and Stella Omu; former Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral G. John – Jonah (rtd); and Rt. Hon Stella Dorgu.

  • PANDEF urges Tinubu to revisit Bakassi Peninsula hand over

    PANDEF urges Tinubu to revisit Bakassi Peninsula hand over

    The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to revisit Nigeria’s ceding of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon, citing the devastating impact on displaced communities and the economic fortunes of Cross River State.

    Reading the statement of the body during a meeting with President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, PANDEF’s co-Chairman and former Akwa Ibom Governor, Obong Victor Attah, many other concerns of the people of that oil-rich Niger Delta region, including finding a lasting solution to the political crisis in Rivers State, the state of insecurity in the region and the need to prioritise the issue of fiscal federalism.

    The regional socio-cultural body lamented that the 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling and the subsequent Green Tree Agreement had left thousands of Nigerians without their ancestral homes and means of livelihood.

    “The aftermath of this decision continues to haunt our people, displacing entire communities, depriving them of basic amenities, and threatening their cultural survival. We do not wish to dwell on past mistakes, but it is imperative to revisit this matter and explore ways to mitigate its impact on the affected communities,” Attah said.

    The PANDEF delegation also raised concerns over the escalating political crisis in Rivers State, calling on President Tinubu to intervene and ensure an amicable resolution between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.

    Despite the President’s earlier mediation efforts, the crisis remains unresolved due to conflicting court rulings. 

    “Rivers State is an economic nerve center, and any instability there has dire consequences for the entire nation,” PANDEF warned.

    The forum revealed that it had constituted a High-Level Peace and Reconciliation Committee chaired by Obong Victor Attah to mediate in the crisis but stressed that the President’s direct intervention was necessary. 

    “Mr. President must impress upon all stakeholders that peace is paramount and that a solution must be found outside the courts,” Attah said.

    PANDEF further urged President Tinubu to sign into law the South-South Development Commission bill, stressing that it would complement the work of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in addressing regional development needs.

    “The NDDC was designed to tackle oil industry-related challenges, but the South-South Development Commission is necessary to drive overall development in the region,” the group explained.

    The leaders also decried the worsening security situation in the South-South, citing increasing cases of kidnappings, violent attacks, and sea piracy. 

    They warned that as security operations intensify in other parts of the country, criminal elements are shifting their activities to the region.

    “If left unchecked, this could push local communities toward self-help measures, a situation that could spiral out of control,” PANDEF cautioned. 

    The group called for improved intelligence gathering and security reinforcements, as well as the swift establishment of a Coast Guard to protect coastal communities.

    PANDEF highlighted the poor state of infrastructure in the Niger Delta, lamenting the slow progress on major roads such as the East-West Road, Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Road, and Benin-Warri Highway. 

    They urged the federal government to accelerate these projects and prioritize the development of new deep-sea ports in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Edo States.

    On oil sector reforms, the leaders advocated for increased local participation, urging the appointment of qualified Niger Delta indigenes to top positions in the NNPC and other energy agencies.

    Read Also: PANDEF urges Tinubu to assent to South-South Development Commission Bill

    They also pushed for the implementation of modular refineries to curb illegal refining and reduce environmental pollution. 

    “The federal government must follow through on its commitment to support modular refineries as a way to address oil theft and create jobs,” PANDEF emphasized.

    The group concluded by urging President Tinubu to champion fiscal federalism, arguing that it remains the most viable path to national development.

    “This is an issue Your Excellency has long championed, and we believe your leadership can make true federalism a reality,” PANDEF stated.

    Reaffirming their support for the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Niger Delta leaders pledged continued cooperation with the federal government to ensure national stability and prosperity.

    “Your success will be our collective success,” Attah declared.

  • PANDEF urges Tinubu to assent to South-South Development Commission Bill

    PANDEF urges Tinubu to assent to South-South Development Commission Bill

    The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to sign the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) Bill into law.

    The group also demanded the renaming of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) back to its original name, Oil Mineral Producing Area Development Commission (OMPADEC).

    Speaking to journalists after a Board of Trustees meeting, PANDEF’s National Spokesperson, Dr. Obiuwevbi Ominimini, emphasized that signing the SSDC bill would promote justice and equity, just as similar bills for other regions have received presidential approval.

    He clarified that the NDDC should not be mistaken for the South-South Commission, as it serves oil-producing communities beyond the South-South region. 

    According to Ominimini, the NDDC was designed to cater to all oil-producing areas across Nigeria, not just the South-South states.

    PANDEF urged the federal government to address these concerns promptly, ensuring fair treatment for the South-South region in line with other parts of the country.

    Read Also; NDLEA declares four wanted over cocaine shipments to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, others

    “Subscribes to the desirability of having a Development Commission for all the six geographic zones of the country without exception and therefore views this withholding of assent as a grave oversight or error, capable of creating a feeling of exclusion and dejection on the part of the people of the South-South.

    “The non-assent of this bill leaves the South-South region orphaned within the broader context of regional development commissions which include the North East Development Commission (NEDC), North West Development Commission (NWDC), South West Development Commission 

    “The BOT reminds Mr. President and the Federal Government that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was established by law in 2000 to mitigate specific issues targeting oil mineral producing communities and to create an enabling environment for hitch free oil and gas activities in the host communities. Hence the NDDC has its own specific funding formula and modus operandi.

    “PANDEF further noted that, whereas the Niger Delta region has a definite geographic boundary, the membership of the NDDC has extended beyond this boundary to include other oil producing states such as Abia, Imo, Ondo and others, with a possibility of extending further to include other states in the future.

    “The meeting therefore strongly recommended that the name, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) which could become a misnomer, should revert to its earlier designation as Oil Mineral Production Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC). This will distinguish it and prevent any confusion between it and the newly created South-South Development Commissions all of which directed at are creating inclusive national development irrespective of their production of natural resources, hence their location within the Ministry of Regional Development which at present is ably manned by Engr. Abubakar Momoh, in whom we are well pleased.

    “PANDEF restates that the assent to the South-South Development Commission bill will promote broader regional development in the area and complements the work of the NDDC, especially under the present capable Board and Managing Director, Dr. Sammy Ogbuku.

    “This is the region that produces the money that runs this country. And today, we have development Commissions for the various geopolitical zones.

    PANDEF also called on President Tinubu to appoint somebody from the Niger Delta region as the next Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited. 

    PANDEF also described as regrettable the recent decision by NNPC to join some private investors to develop five new LNG, CNG and LP complexes in Kogi State with none in the Niger Delta, where the gas for most of these activities will come from.

    The group said the decision “negates all known economic parameters on siting industries close to source of raw materials, it gives credence to the long standing agitation on the fact that NNPC and its management continue to pursue very unfair policies towards the South-South zone.”

    “ The BOT therefore calls on Mr. President to direct the NNPC to redress this situation and equally accelerate similar investments in the Niger Delta which should include the siting of mini refineries within the area,” the group added. 

    Ominimini stressed that “the people of Niger Delta are the most peaceful people in the country.”

    He added: “If other regions are of the positions of Niger Delta, they would have left Nigeria. The people of Niger Delta should be commended for their loyalty to the Nigeria project. We have, over the years, been very loyal to the Nigeria State.”

  • PANDEF urges Niger Delta to invest in agriculture 

    PANDEF urges Niger Delta to invest in agriculture 

    The Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF has expressed the need for the Niger Delta region to invest in agriculture. 

    PANDEF National Chairman, Amb. Godknows Igali  said that the region needs to invest in agriculture, according to a statement signed by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Dr. Obiuwevbi Ominimini.

    Igali was quoted by the statement to have spoken during a visit to Chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM King Bubaraye Dakolo.

    The statement reads: “He likened the Niger Delta to the same soil in Vietnam where the Vietnamese people have a huge investment in the cultivation of rice. He said that we, Niger Deltans, can feed ourselves. 

    “The National Chairman commended the people of the Niger Delta Region, describing them as no trouble maker. That any company that operates in the oil and gas sector in the region must respect the people of the region, whether offshore or onshore. He reiterated the speedy environmental clean up of the devastated ecosystem, which may take even up to 30 years to achieve  because of the high level of devastation.

    “Without mincing words,  Amb Igali stated very clearly that NDDC can stand alone instead of merging it under the Ministry of Regional Development because it is an interventionist agency which has to do with derivation. 

    “He therefore categorically stated that the next Chief Executive of NNPCL has to be appointed from the South South Geopolitical zone.  He reported that he has addressed a memo to president Tinubu duly also endorsed by the Co-chairmen of the PANDEF board of trustees as to the signing into law without delay by Mr President, of the South South Development Commission bill as passed by the National Assembly.”

    In his remarks, the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM King Bubaraye Dakolo, urged the PANDEF leadership  to develop a new strategy capable of bringing development and preventing others from taking undue advantage of Niger Deltans. 

    “HRM emphasised the fact that the Niger Delta has fed Nigeria for over 60 years but that the Region has nothing to show for it. 

    “HRM called on the federal government to also establish the riverine marine safety Corps for the riverine people of the Niger Delta. “

  • PANDEF applauds Diri, Otu’s emergence as south-south Governors forum leaders 

    PANDEF applauds Diri, Otu’s emergence as south-south Governors forum leaders 

    The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has commended the selection of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri and Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu as Chairman and Vice Chairman, respectively, of the South-South Governors Forum. 

    In a statement signed by its spokesman, Dr. Obiuwevbi Ominimini, PANDEF described their emergence as a clear demonstration of the trust, leadership qualities, and dedication to duty recognized by their fellow governors.

    “The South-South region is basically in need of regional collaboration on many aspects of development such as regional security architecture, transportation mechanisms such as regional rail way system and regional marine transportation among others. The emergence of the duo as the Chairman and vice chairman of the regional governors’ forum shall no doubt bring succour to the aspiration of the people of the devastated Niger Delta Region.

    Read Also: Police smash newborn theft, sale syndicate, arrest eight suspects

    “In fact, the emergence of this present leadership of the South-South Governors forum is completely believed to be competent enough as tested political Leaders who have both Legislative and Executive experiences to have the practical expertise of governance to bring solutions to the long age challenges bedeviling the region. Governor Douye Diri and Governor Bassey Otu are rare men in a rare time such as this.

    “The South-South Governors’ forum is responsible for the creation of the BRACED commission but has not been properly funded. It is now our strong belief that this new leadership shall make a difference as we trust the confidence reposed on them by their colleagues in electing them as leaders of this power body.

    “Pandef, therefore, promises to work very closely with this new leadership of the South-South Governors Forum to fast track speedy development of the Region as our people can no longer wait for too long again. One more, we congratulate them and pray to God Almighty to give them the enabling environment and more wisdom to succeed in this new task.”