PANDEF RENEWS CALL FOR PEACE AND UNITY IN NIGER DELTA.

Other Sports Oct 27, 2024 0 259 Add to Reading List

26th October, 2024

Uzochukwu Uduma

The national chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien has emphasized the critical need for peace and unity within the Niger Delta region.

He made this known during the PANDEF General Assembly held in port Harcourt on the 24th of October, 2024 with the theme "Fostering peace and unity for sustainable development for Niger Delta region".

He urged members, stakeholders of the region to strive to create and maintain an environment that will be conducive to socio economic advancement holding that peace and unity will help promote sustainable development.

He also emphasized the need for community resilience by priotizing collaborative efforts among stakeholders, including political class, traditional rulers, community leaders and other members of the region.

Senator Ibok-Essien however, frowned at federal government for failing to implement the sixteen point demand presented to it in November 2016 which he said would have helped solve issues in the Niger Delta.

Federal government has dismissed claims that it scrapped the ministry of Niger Delta affairs.

Meanwhile, senator Lokpobiri who made this clarification during a speech at the PANDEF general assembly explained that federal government has not scrapped the ministry of Niger Delta Affairs but that it expanded the ministry to ensure growth of other regions.

Moving forward, He urged Niger deltans to look at the bright side which he said involves the increase in policy making from the region to the presidency.
Noting that Niger Delta is considered, the most strategic region in the country but argued that federal government shouldn't be burdened with the duty of developing all areas.

Lokpobiri urged States in the Niger Delta to hold their governors, local governments and other political office holders responsible for under development in their areas noting that it is the reason for fund allocation to be able to solve issues at the grassroot level.

Nexus media reporter Uzochukwu Uduma, reports that Governors, past and present, ministers, senators, traditional rulers and other stakeholders were present at the Assembly.