The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has announced its intention to re-present the 16-Point Demands, which were previously botched by the outgone Muhammadu Buhari-led regime, to the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for consideration.
The foremost South South sociocultural group gave the hint in a communique issued at the end of an expanded National Executive Committee meeting held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, on Friday.
The communique was signed by the National Chairman of PANDEF, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, in a meeting that had in attendance members of the Board of Trustees, and National and State Executive Committees. Some critical stakeholders of PANDEF also present included the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Ambassador (Dr.) Godknows Igali; former Military Administrator of Kwara State, Colonel PAM Ogah (rtd); former Minister of Lands & Housing, Hon. Nduese Essien; former Secretary to the State Government of Akwa Ibom State and Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Forum, Obongawan Grace Ekong; HRM King Dr Suanu T. Y. Baridam, JP; former Director, NBC, Mr O. Mac Emakpore; Hon. Bassey Ekefre; former NNDC Director, Hon. Dr Itam Abang; Prince Okareme Maikpobi; and National Publicity Secretary, Dr Ken Robinson, among others.
The group commended the National Assembly for revisiting the Bakassi issue, which, it said, was of dire interest to the people, but urged the National Assembly to pursue the issue to a logical conclusion.
The communique read in part:
“Likewise, PANDEF felicitates with all the members of the 10th National Assembly from the South-South Geo-political Zone and urges them to use their various offices to foster unity, peace, and accelerate the socio-economic growth and transformation of the lives of our people.
“Furthermore, PANDEF reiterates its call for sustained cooperation among the different layers and strata of the political leadership in the Region, including the Governors, Members of the National Assembly, Ministers, and Heads of MDAs, irrespective of political affiliation, as evident in other zones of the country, along with the social-cultural leadership, in order to better address the challenges of the Region.
“PANDEF also congratulates His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio on his emergence as President of the 10th Senate and expresses confidence in his ability to provide the needed leadership in directing the affairs of the Senate and indeed, the National Assembly, to the utmost benefit of all the people of Nigeria.
“Additionally, PANDEF commends President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for their firm resolve on the zoning of the Senate Presidency to the South-South and for following through on it.
“PANDEF strongly cautions the Youths of the Niger Delta Region to desist from unwarranted utterances capable of undermining the smooth functioning of federal agencies with direct bearing on the socio-economic development of the Region.
“Furthermore, PANDEF implores the Heads of Federal MDAs relating to the Niger Delta to adopt broader, more consensual approaches in the management of such agencies to provide more widespread opportunities for youth development.
“PANDEF also calls on the Federal Government to revisit the issue of supporting the development of Modular Refineries in the Niger Delta Region to stamp out unwholesome, unauthorized refining of crude as a way of providing employment for the teeming youths in the Niger Delta Region and to curb criminality.
“Regarding the deplorable state of critical infrastructure, particularly roads, in the entire Region:
PANDEF frowns upon the condition of several sections of the East-West Road (Eleme-Onne, Patani-Kiama-Mbiama), sections of the Port Harcourt – Aba, Benin – Auchi, Benin-Sapale-Warri, Benin-Agbor, Sapele – Agbor, Calabar – Itu, Ikot Ekpene-Aba highways, which have all become impassable, suffocating social and economic activities in the areas and leading to widespread poverty levels.
PANDEF deems it entirely unacceptable that the proverbial goose that lays the golden egg is being totally neglected, administration after administration.
Therefore, PANDEF demands immediate intervention works on the failed sections of the cited roads, and others, by the Federal Ministry of Works and other relevant agencies, to ameliorate the sufferings of the people without further delay.”
While congratulating PANDEF’s National Leader, Chief Dr E. K. Clark, on the forthcoming launch of his autobiography, “Brutally Frank,” on August 17, 2023, in Abuja, the group restated its commitment to “engaging with all well-meaning critical stakeholders of the region, irrespective of political inclination, in its efforts to foster unity, lasting peace, security, and the sustainable development of the Niger Delta Region, for the benefit of present and future generations.”
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