Clarke, Spiff, Emmanuel, others hail FG on Niger Delta

ELDERS and stakeholders of Niger Delta, on Thursday, rose from the General Assembly of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), urging the Federal Government to do more in the development of the region.

At the meeting held at Ibom Hall, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, stakeholders of PANDEF including the leader, Chief Edwin Clarke; co-chairmen, Chief Alfred Diette Spiff and Obong Victor Attah; the secretary, Mr Ledum Mitee and others flayed underdevelopment plaguing the region.

Clarke reiterated calls for the restructuring of the polity, warning that “non-restructuring will kill Nigeria”, noting that “modalities for restructuring of the federation was already articulated in 2014 National Conference report.

He commended the Federal Government’s recent peace overtures to the nine Niger Delta states led by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, expressing happiness that, at last, issues of Niger Delta were getting attention from the centre.

While stressing the imperative of dialogue as the way forward for peace in the region, Clarke enjoined stakeholders and leaders of Niger Delta, to rally round PANDEF in the task of working with the Federal Government to address challenges of unemployment, infrastructural development for peace in the region.

Besides, Clarke called on the Federal Government to address the question of alleged lopsided appointments in the oil and gas sector, lamenting that Niger Delta indigenes were not properly represented in the sector.

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, stressed the need for a holistic action plan to develop the region, which he noted remained the economic live wire of the country.

He explained that the neglect of the region by the Federal Government had given rise to restiveness and militancy plaguing the region, adding that “there is no corresponding development to show for years of exploiting the oil and gas resources of the region.”