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Tag: PNDPC

  • PANDEF splinter group PNDPC returns

    The Pan-Niger Delta People’s Congress (PNDPC), a splinter group of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), has rejoined PANDEF.

    PNDPC, led by the paramount ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom, Pere Charles Ayemi-Botu and High Chief Mike Loyibo, had challenged the Chief Edwin Clark-led PANDEF in the last few months.

    Although Ayemi-Botu was absent at the harmonisation meeting held at Clark’s country home in Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government Area, Chief Loyibo, who led the PNDPC entourage, affirmed that all disagreements had been rested.

    On the PNDPC’s entourage were the Pere of Ogulagha Kingdom Joseph Timiyan; Prof Christopher Dime; Chief Prefugha Karawei; Chief Wellington Bobo; Chief William Borme and Chief D.S.P Oyadonghan.

    Loyibo said the PNDPC ceased to exist, following the parley with Chief

    Clark, adding that it would be unproductive for the people to work at cross purposes.

    “We are back. The only way we can progress as a region is to stick together as one, and we have decided that from today, there’s nothing like PNDPC anymore, there’s only one umbrella body, which is PANDEF, under the leadership of Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark. I’m talking on behalf of the entire PNDPC; that’s why we are here.

    “When we are divided, we cannot achieve development for our people, and what we are talking about is Niger Delta; Niger Delta must come first and second. The issue our father has been pursuing is how he can advance the cause of the Niger Delta, and that is what we all stand for, and that’s why we decided to collapse under PANDEF, to work under our leader so that we can achieve development for our people,” Loyibo said.

    Chief Clark thanked Loyibo and his entourage for seeing reasons for mending fences, and Alaowei Broderick Bozimo for making the peace meeting happen.

    He, however, urged the Federal Government to see the Niger Delta movement as one indivisible entity, instead of trying to divide it.

    His words: “In every community, you are bound to agree and disagree, that’s the basis

    of democracy. We have now met and decided to come together, to work together, and we use this opportunity to advise the Federal

    Government to see us as one, and not do anything to create division among us.

    “We want to emphasise again that the Pan-Niger Delta Forum is not an Ijaw affair, people should not use the word Ijaw to discredit us; we are for everybody in the Niger Delta and whatever is happening in the Niger Delta. We should all work together, not allowing anybody,

    whether the Federal Government, or any other organisation, divide.”

  • ‘We believe in united Nigeria’

    Niger Delta leaders on Friday insisted on a fair, just and equitable country as opposed to a break-up canvassed recently by the Spokesman of the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Ango Abdullahi.

    The National Coordinator of Pan Niger Delta Peoples Congress (PNDPC), Chief Mike Loyibo, said though they were not afraid of breakup, they had unanimously agreed that Nigeria would be better as one entity.

    He said they would continue to advocate a restructured Nigeria where states would be allowed to control their resources and pay certain amount of taxes to the Federal Government.

    He said they were tired of the current lopsided arrangement where the region which feeds the country, remains marginalised in key security and oil and gas positions.

    He said: “Our problem is that of injustice. The constitution itself is defective and we have been long marginalised. What we are simply saying is true federalism where the regions are allowed to develop at their own pace. Allow us to control and manage our resources and we pay certain taxes to the government.

    “Nobody is afraid of breakup after all Nigeria was a forced marriage. Our position as Niger Delta leaders is that there should be restructuring. We want a structure that will address the injustice we have. For instance among all the MOPOL commanders, no Niger Delta is a MOPOL commander.

    “Look at the recent appointments in NNPC, there was a very serious injustice to the people of the region. Look at other sectors, the injustices are there. The government has been very unfair to us. I don’t support breakup but I support one Nigeria where there will be justice, equity and every side will be allowed to develop at their own pace.

    “Obafemi Awolowo succeeded that much because there was cocoa and the region was only paying taxes to the Federal Government. Ango Abdullahi is entitled to his opinion. I am surprised because that man is always speaking from both sides of his mouth. The other day he said it was not resource control but resource management.

    Also, the former President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Mr. Udens Eradiri, said though breaking up was not an impossible task, Nigeria would only remain stronger as a united country.

    He said the country must be restructured to ensure equity and justice, adding that devolution of power enable states to develop at their pace.

     

  • Niger Delta elders to meet Buhari with new template for peace

    Niger Delta elders to meet Buhari with new template for peace

    Niger Delta leaders of thought under a new platform of Pan Niger Delta People’s Congress (PNDPC), have prepared a new template for sustainable peace and development of the region to be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The new body, which said it had been mandated by the coalition of the Niger Delta agitators to negotiate for the region, expressed optimism that the meeting with Buhari would hold in October this year.

    The group of elders emerged a few weeks ago after the coalition of Niger Delta militants passed a vote of no confidence in the Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).

    The elders drawn from all the states in the Niger Delta region including Cross River met at the palace of Ibedaowei of Opokuma Kingdom, King Okpoitari Diongoli, in Opokuma, Bayelsa State, at the weekend, to adopt the new template.

    The National Chairman, PNDPC, His Royal Majesty Charles Ayemi-Botu, said the new body was put in place to selflessly fight for the development of the region through dialogue with the Presidency.

    Ayemi-Botu, a former National Chairman of Traditional Rulers of Oil Minerals Producing Communities of Nigeria (OMPCN) and paramount ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom, said the body was formed to change the negative narratives of the region.

    He said: ”This is an all-encompassing Niger Delta people, who in consonance with our sons and daughters, agitating in the creeks, come together to see how we can provide a lasting solution to the age-long marginalisation and problems of the region.

    ”This body is independent of any other body. We have set up a strategic planning committee and after a month, we are now ready with our own vision and mission. We have just gone through it, circulated it among our members and in our subsequent meeting, we are going to adopt it and the world we know what we stand for.

    ”So, our being here is to show that we are a different set of people from the region that has the interest of the people of the region at heart. And we will in this October meet with the Presidency to discuss and come out with what and what we are going to do to better the lots of the people of the region.

    ”We know the problems of the region and we are going to present these problems to the Presidency. We want to make the Niger Delta region like ‘Dubai of Nigeria’ because nature in its infinite mercy has bestowed on us the ‘black gold’ which is the economic livewire of the country.

    ”Over 98 per cent of the gross domestic product is coming from oil; but because we have bad leadership, people who are self-centred, people who only feel to better themselves and leaving the rest to suffer, that is how we are where we are. But it is no longer going to be business as usual.”

    He insisted that the group was not partisan adding that members comprised traditional rulers, religious leaders, eminent persons, technocrats, among others.

    He said the activities of the group since its formation were the reason for the relative peace enjoyed in the region following commitment by militants to ensure ceasefire.

    Ayemi-Botu said: ”You see last year when the agitators or freedom fighters  went to the creeks and started destroying the economy. That added to the recession but when we came and asked for peace, they sheathed their swords and allowed peace to reign.

    ”The production that was up to 2.2million barrels went down to 700,000 barrels, but as at August when we met them and they embraced peace and ceasefire, you can see that our economy has jerked up to 2million barrels per day and the recession is gone.

    ”We pray that given the time and understanding of the Federal Government, the peaceful situation in the country and the upsurge in the production of oil in the country will continue and Nigeria and Niger Delta will not remain the same again.”

    Also speaking, the National Coordinator, PNDPC, Chief Mike Loyibo, said the body was not formed to fight any group but to advance the peace, security and development of the region.

    ”Our mission is to see how we can advance the fulcrum of the Niger Delta people. We are not a political party, we have activists, clergy men, opinion leaders and we came together when we realised that there was a problem about leadership,” he said.

  • PANDEF Vs PNDPC

    There appears a turf war brewing in the Niger Delta.

    What is not clear is whether the war is for the soul of Niger Deltans, in an umpteenth attempt to corral a better deal from the Federal Government; or a hustling attempt to catch the attention of Abuja, that a new bunch of “leaders” has hit town.

    It all depends on which part of the divide you stand.

    “PANDEF remains authentic voice of N-Delta” went a story in the Vanguard of August 30, quoting the durable Edwin Clark, who had been strutting on the Niger Delta turf, as a young federal commissioner under Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Military Head of State from 1966-1975.

    In that story, Alfred Mulade, quoted as PANDEF’s coordinating secretary, urged the security agencies to probe an alleged faction of PANDEF, known as the Pan-Niger Delta People’s Congress (PNDPC).

    But you ask, when did being a faction of a group become a crime, necessitating the probe of security agencies?  Well, Dr. Mulade claimed that faction was baiting a coalition of “militant” groups to make noise and foment trouble, just to claim PANDEF had been overthrown by PNDPC as the authentic negotiating voice for the Niger Delta. Claims and counter-claims!

    Well, in PNDPC’s ranks, aside from the “ghost” militant group that PANDEF claims are real faces, with at least a traditional ruler.  PANDEF fingered HRM Pere Charles Ayemi-Botu, the paramount ruler of Sembiri Kingdom and Chief Mike Loyibo, claimed PNDPC national leader and coordinator.  They would appear the PANDEF truducers-in-chief, drumming support for the rival PNDPC.

    But from the PANDEF disclaimer, the PNDPC threat would appear potent enough for PANDEF to a ringing renunciation of phoney “militants” PNDPC allegedly uses as scarecrow, to create a siege situation.

    “There was never at any time any group of militants that goes by any of those names gave PANDEF any mandate, as these groups do not exist anywhere,” PANDEF declared. “This is a clear handiwork or creation of mischievous persons of no consequence and grassroots relevance attempting to mislead the public, to appropriate the gains PANDEF has recorded for the Niger Delta, to curry cheap popularity.”

    Impressive denunciation!  But a legitimate question: how much of it is notorious facts, as the lawyers would say?  And much of it is stacking of cards, to drown the PNDPC, in the eye of the storm, in a flurry of blows?  That would not be known, until PNDPC takes its own turn under the sun.

    Still, one thing is clear: the Niger Delta, under northern military heads of state and elected presidents, under President Olusegun Obasanjo, and under own son Goodluck Jonathan, has always held the short end of the stick, with many of its own greedy elite making it so.

    The latest manifestation is the alleged Diezani greed, under Jonathan.  If the allegations are true, then Diezani with the humongous sleaze plaguing her name, runs the legitimate chance of becoming a fair and proper human symbol for sheer greed.  Yet, the Niger Delta poor were the ultimate victims.  Yet, Diezani and Jonathan are Niger Delta daughter and son!

    That is why these groups should quit these barren turf wars and focus on getting the best deal for their long-suffering people.

  • PANDEF VS PNDPC: There’s no coup, just leadership change – Ijaw Monarch

    PANDEF VS PNDPC: There’s no coup, just leadership change – Ijaw Monarch

    The Pan Niger Delta People’s Congress (PNDPC) has cited the failure of the Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) provide the needed leadership to represent the interests of the people of the oil-rich region.

    Leader of the PNDPC and paramount ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom in Burutu council area of Delta state, Pere Charles Ayemi-Botu, speaking in the company of other members of the new body in Warri on Monday, also debunked insinuations that the emergence of his group was a coup against Chief Clark, noting that the PNDPC was a child of circumstance, brought about by the demand of agitators who necessitated the birth of PANDEF.

    Meanwhile, the Chief Clark-led PANDEF had insisted that it remains the only body set up to represent the interest of the people of the Niger Delta, describing the PNDPC and its coordinator, Chief Mike Loyibo, as impostors.

    Speaking yesterday at the meeting set to formalise his group’s acceptance of the call to represent the interests of the Niger Delta region by agitators, Pere Ayemi-Botu said membership of the body is opened to all Niger Delta people, adding that they would soon commence an engagement with all stakeholders in the Niger Delta matters.

    “In the course of accepting our nomination and mandate, which also translates into the withdrawal of an earlier mandate given to a sister organisation, we must have widely and meticulously consulted our people and became convinced that resulting from the low success rates achieved so far in this struggle, a change in command and operational dynamics has become inevitable.

    “It is very sad to note that due largely to external and structural imperfections in Nigeria’s present federalism and the internal mismanagement of funds allocated for the development of the region, we have remained poor in all ramifications, in spite of our enormous contributions to the wealth of the Nigerian project.

    “This situation must be reversed. The Pan-Niger Delta People’s Congress must work more assiduously to usher in massive infrastructural and human capital development in the region”, the monarch said.

    Also speaking to journalists after the briefing, the Coordinator of the PCNPC, Chief Mike Loyibo, said the new body was convened by the agitators in the Niger Delta, believing that the people now selected to represent the region have the integrity to speak on their behalf without hiding anything from them.

    He said the new group has all the members that formed the core of the PANDEF, noting that all the people who started the PANDEF had all fallen back to PNDPC.

    It would be recalled that the PANDEF, in a statement issued by its Coordinating Secretary, Dr Alfred Mulade, had written off the PNDPC as an impostor group, calling on the government not to heed its antics.

    “PANDEF remains a not-for-profit, non-political and non-religious regional organisation, with its members cut across all political, cultural and religious divides, the undisputed voice of the region, and certainly not a platform for seeking political, social or pecuniary tendencies, as some persons would want to erroneously think.

    “PANDEF hereby urges the government and all stakeholders to be wary of the intents and activities of these confusionists and troublemakers, whose intents and activities are inimical to peace, stability and development of the Niger Delta region, as we call on the security agencies to investigate them accordingly”, the statement said.