Communiqué Issued at the End of an Emergency General Assembly of the Pan Niger Delta Forum Held on Thursday 25th January 2018
The Pan Niger Delta Forum held an emergency General Assembly at Kiagbodo Delta State, at the country home of its National Leader Chief Dr. E.K Clark, OFR, CON, on Thursday 25th January 2018.
The meeting had in attendance leaders of Pan Niger Delta Forum from the six States of the Niger Delta comprising, of traditional rulers, political leaders, academia, civil society and activists amongst others.
2. The meeting, which was chaired by the National leader, Chief Dr. E.K Clark discussed a broad range of issues which included:
a. State of the Nation
b. The situation in the Niger Delta
c. Update on the Presidential Amnesty Programme
d. Preparation for the mega rally planned for March 2018
e. Election of PANDEF National Executive committee
3. After exhaustive deliberation’s, the General Assembly resolved as follows:
A. State of the Nation:
I. Expressed solidarity with the people of Benue State and other parts of the country where communities have suffered untold menace and brutality in the hands of Fulani herdsmen.
II. Rejected the idea of setting up Cattle Colonies around the country and advised the Federal Government to handle this sensitive matter with tact and treat the issue of animal husbandry as a commercial transaction which should be left in the hands of relevant stakeholders.
III. Emphasized that no Niger Delta land will be available for such cattle colonies.
B. Mega Rally on Restructuring planned for March 2018 –
I. Congratulated the people of the SW for the successful holding of its mega rally on restructuring held on the 7th of September 2017 at Lekan Sallami Stadium, Ibadan at which delegation from the South-South also participated.
II. Congratulated the people of the South East and South West for the ‘Handshake’ across the Niger Summit”, which held in Enugu on 15th January 2018 at which a delegation from the South-South also participated.
III. Resolved to hold its Mega Rally ie South-South Mega Rally to be held in Yenagoa on the 24th of March 2018 for which a committee chaired by Prof. G.G Dara and co-chaired by Amb. Godknows Igali, was constituted.
IV. Constituted a committee to participate in the South-South Summit on restructuring coming up in Port Harcourt on the 27th of January 2018 as a prelude to the forthcoming mega rally.
C. Situation in the Niger Delta-
I. Noted with concern the slow pace with which the Federal Government continues to handle matters pertaining to the Niger Delta, especially the implementation of the 16-point agenda submitted since the 1st of November 2016.
II. Condemned in particular, the continued refusal of international and national oil companies to show presence in the Niger Delta including moving their operational and administrative offices to the region
III. Noted also with grave concern the continued delay in the completion of the East West road and the under funding of its implementation.
IV. Expressed worry over the fact that plans are being concluded to issue licenses to modular refineries without corresponding participation from stakeholders in the Niger Delta region.
V. Noted the unacceptable slow pace on effective take-off of the Nigerian Maritime University Okerenkoko Delta State and the silence over the upgrading of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron to a Federal University of Maritime Studies.
VI. Condemned the efforts by some political office holders to create divisions and disaffections in the Niger Delta.
VII. Approved the constitution of a high-level delegation to visit Ogoni and Kula areas of Rivers State to ascertain the facts pertaining to the renewal of oil lease licenses
VIII. This notwithstanding calls on various Niger Delta peoples and communities, especially, the Niger Delta Avengers and various aggrieved groups to continue to exercise patience and allow PANDEF and its other political leaders to continue dialogue with the Federal Government.
IX. Calls on Niger Delta Political leaders and leadership of intervention agencies such as the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and NDDC, to show greater accountability in managing resources allocated for various programmes.
D. Update on the Presidential Amnesty Programme –
I. Reaffirms its confidence that the Presidential Amnesty Programme is a veritable tool for maintaining peace in the region and appreciates the work being done by its present leadership.
II. Took decision to send high delegation to the FG to discuss issues pertaining to the Amnesty programme and its continuation.
