Niger Delta leaders can’t agree on who to dialogue with FG
Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILoT), Delta State, on Monday, faulted the claim by the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) that it was the mandate of Niger Delta leaders to dialogue with the Federal Government, saying it was untrue.
In a statement by the group’s secretary, Chief Edward Ekpoko, he said:
“The Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILOT) has read the press statement credited to the PANDEF in one of the national dailies of January 1, 2017, wherein it falsely claimed that it has the mandate of Niger Delta leaders and stakeholders to dialogue on their behalf. This is false.”
Quoting a one-time acting National President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Mr Charles Ambaiowei, who described PANDEF as a gathering grandstanding and pandering to the interest of some people, he said:
“A body that will also demand go the re-opening of a Maritime University that was never in existence in the face of the law, cannot be taken seriously. The Bull to establish the University has just passed second reading in the Senate.
“No reasonable government will cave in to any demand for the withdrawal of the security personnel from communities that are prone to destruction of oil and gas facilities as the only panacea for peace as it is the case with PANDEF. PANDEF is being promoted by a section of the media.
“The relative peace in the Niger Delta is as a result of the presence and activities of the security forces and the plea by some well-meaning traditional rulers and community leaders in the Niger Delta and certainly not PANDEF.”
