October 28, 2024
By Idris Buba
The Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, an apex organisation in Niger delta, led by the South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark has set up a High Level Peace and Reconciliation Committee to mediate and resolve the lingering crisis between the Governor Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.
It said, “The Assembly hereby sets up a High Level Peace and Reconciliation Committee to mediate on and resolve all disputes and conflicts within the area. The Committee is headed by His Excellency, Obong Victor Attah, Co-Chairman, Pandef BOT. Others on the Committee are Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien, Senator Rowland Owie, Senator Stella Omu, H. E. Rear Admiral G. John-Jonah, H. E. Pam Ogar, and Rt. Hon. Dr. Stella Dorgu.”
Though the political quagmire between former Rivers State governor Wike and Fubara was not added in the Communique, that was released at the end of the meeting, but PANDEF’s Spokesman, said “Wike and fubare are not members of the committee but the mandate of the committee includes resolving and reconciling their conflict.”
Recall that Wike and Fubara have been at loggerheads since Fubara assumed office as governor in 2023, the governor had said that his rift with Wike is tied to tussle over power and control in Rivers State.
The cold war between the duo had continued despite President Bola Tinubu and other relevant stakeholders’ intervention.
In the Communique that was signed by King Alfred Diette-Spiff, the Amayanabo of Twon Brass and first Military Governor of Rivers State as Co-Chairman, Board of Trustees; former Governor of Akwa ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, Co-Chairman, Board of Trustees; former Nigeria Ambassador to Scandinavian countries( Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway), Dr. Godknows B. Igali, National Chairman; Hon Godwin Okotie, Ag. National Secretary and Dr. Obiuwevbi Ominimini, National Spokesman.
PANDEF has condemned in very strong terms, the scrapping of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs by President Bola Tinubu last week, calling on the federal government to further discuss the issue with a view to addressing several specific concerns in the region.
The body said that the Federal Government dissolved the Ministry into a non-existing body without due consideration to those specific circumstances that led to its creation nor consultation with the critical stakeholders.
READ MORE; Edwin Clark, Reacts to Timubu’s Scraping of ministry of Niger Delta
The apex body, welcomed the proposed South-South Commission to supplement existing Federal Agencies, saying however that the name of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NÐDC) should reflect its functions and the actual membership.
PANDEF also called on the State Governments to guarantee tuition- free education at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, advising that the Region should aim at an average of one tertiary institution in each of the 185 LGAs, adding that the minimum annual budget support in all the states of the Niger Delta should be 25% in line with the template recommended by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO.
It seeks the Federal Government to repair all failed roads, complete the East-West Highway, commence the building of the Calabar-Lagos railway, as well as set up maritime mass transit system for the riverine areas of the Niger Delta.
PANDEF at the end of the meeting also called on the Federal Government to show greater commitment in ensuring fairness in the manner in which the legal regime in the oil and gas sector, regarding participation of host communities is brought at par with the solid mineral sector, even as it urged Niger Delta investors to take advantage of the likely opportunities of the Energy Bank, especially in establishing modular and minor refineries as well as develop green and clean energy potentials in furtherance of the global Climate Change programmes.
