Niger Deltans Are One, Irrespective Of Different Tongues -PANDEF

Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has declared that the people of the oil-rich region are united, irrespective of their ethnic nationalities and tongues.

PANDEF national chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali made the declaration yesterday when the Board of Trustees (BoT) and members of the group paid a condolence visit to Opobo Town, Rivers State, over the demise of their traditional ruler, King Dandeson Douglas-Jaja.

Douglas-Jaja, who was chairman of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council (RSTRC), was a founding member of the pro-Niger Delta organisation.

Igali, who spoke during the visit, described the death of the Opobo monarch as a great loss to the people of the region.

“I want to add my voice to what the co-chairman, Board of Trustees, has said. Some said we should wait until the burial proper but we said no. The person of our departed monarch is the person that what he meant for us, is such that we have to come. It is something that is deserving that we come to pay this visit.

“We are here from all the states in the Niger Delta, to tell the people of Opobo, your Majesty in particular and the children, that in times like this, friends have to come and identify with you. In observation of our religious obligation where the Bible said we should mourn with those who mourn.

“The loss is not a loss to the family and the people of this ancient great kingdom, but a loss to us. It is a loss to the people of Niger Delta.

Nigeria sometimes think that we are not one in the Niger Delta,” he said.

In his remarks, co-chairman, PANDEF’s Board of Trustees and former Akwa Ibom State governor, Obong Victor Attah, said the organisation didn’t want to wait for the burial programmes to be fixed before coming for the condolence visit.

Attah said: “We didn’t want to wait for the burial to be fixed before paying this condolence visit. He was a prominent member of PANDEF and was always available at all our meetings and engagements. May his soul rest in peace.”

In his response, the Amanyanabo-elect of Opobo Kingdom, Alabo Charles Mac-Pepple-Jaja, said the late monarch worked hard to bring the ancient kingdom to the standard it is today.

“He worked hard to bring up Opobo to the standard we are today. In fact, he told me that formations like PANDEF, the South-South Monarchs and other organizations he coordinated and they are now national icons.

“Your presence here in Opobo demonstrates that Danderson Douglas-Jaja was actually a man who loves the Niger Delta,” he said.