Leaders of Nigeria’s oil producing Niger Delta region under the auspices of Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), have rejected the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), recently passed by the national assembly, noting that it did not meet the yearnings of the people of the region.
The regional group also warned that conflicts may continue in the oil-rich region if host communities were denied their legitimate rights.
The group which took the position at an extraordinary meeting in Abuja, restated its stand on restructuring and cautioned the Federal Government over the abandonment of its 16-point agenda presented to President Muhammadu Buhari, November 1, 2016, in view of recent threats by militants to resume fresh hostilities in the region over unfulfilled promises by government.
PANDEF also spoke against the continuous use of interim management to run the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC), saying that the board be constituted.
The group’s resolutions, contained in a communique by former minister and elder statesman, Edwin Clark and Ibok-Essien, read in part: “That the PIB falls short of the expectations of the Niger Delta people, who bear the brunt of the consequences of the oil and gas industry operations in their lands.
“PANDEF recalls and reiterates that host communities of the Niger Delta region had demanded 10 per cent equity participation, as against the percentages just passed by the National Assembly. And maintains its long-held logical demand that, unless stakeholders of the oil and gas host communities are given sufficient rights in the management and operation of the industry, conflicts in the oil-rich region may persist.
“Cautions the Federal Government of Nigeria over the now likely deleterious consequences of ignoring, or treating with contempt, the 16-Point Agenda presented to President Muhammadu Buhari, on 1st November 2016.
“Currently, the Youth in the Niger Delta have declared a ‘vote of no confidence’ on PANDEF because it was the leaders of the region that stayed their hand when, in frustration, they had decided to cripple the national economy in 2016.”
The group equally asked the Federal Government to call security agents to order concerning the midnight invasion of the residence of Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, and tell Nigerians the home truth on the repatriation of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, Nnamdi Kanu.
PANDEF, according to communique, “Condemns the brutal and bloody midnight raid on the residence of a Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, in the Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State, by agents of the Department of State Services, DSS, in a Gestapo manner, during which innocent citizens were killed and properties destroyed.
“Stands in solidarity with Afenifere, and the South-West people, on this matter and calls on Mr. President to immediately call to order the security agencies and cease all forms of flagrant abuse of power.
“Requests the Federal Government to tell Nigerians the truth of the process which led to the abduction of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and his clandestine, forceful repatriation to Nigeria, and hopes that he will be given a fair and open trial.
“Cautions that the reported identification of sponsors of Nnamdi Kanu should not be an alibi to witch-hunt and persecute phantom enemies imagined by the government.
“Stands, firmly, in solidarity with the people of the Middle Belt, in the face of brutal physical attacks and seeming plans to destroy their every means of livelihood, by suspected Fulani gunmen”.
Present at the meeting were, National Leader of PANDEF, Edwin Clark; National Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Ibok- Essien; Deputy National Chairman, Chief Hon. T. K. Okorotie; former Minister of Housing, Lands and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Nduese Essien; former Chairman, NDDC, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw; and former Secretary to the Government of Rivers State, Senator Inatimi Rufus-Spiff.
Others were PANDEF National Woman Leader, Chief (Mrs.) Betty Igbeyi; former Resident Electoral Commissioner, Edo State, Dr. Mrs. Rose Obuoforibo; former member, House of Representatives, Chief Mrs. Olivia Agbajoh; former Commissioner, DESOPADEC, Chief Ominimini Obiuwevwi and former National Secretary, Traditional Rulers of Oil Producing Communities of Nigeria, TROMPCON, Prince Maikpbo Okareme.
