ANAYO ONUKWUGHARivers State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, have called on leaders of various ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region to come together for the unity of the region.
The duo made the call yesterday in Port Harcourt while speaking at the special general assembly of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), which had the theme: ‘Fostering Peace and Unity for Sustainable Development of our Niger Delta Region.’
The general assembly, which featured the election of a new national executive committee (NEC) of the forum, was attended by prominent leaders of the region, including first governor of Old Rivers State and traditional ruler of Twon Brass in Bayelsa State, King Alfred Dieter Spiff and the former civilian governor of Rivers State, Chief Rufus Ada-George.
Others are former Akwa Ibom State governor Obong Victor Attah, former deputy governor of Bayelsa State Rear Admiral John Jonah, and former chief of defence Staff General Alexander Ogomudia.
Fubara stated that if peace and unity remain sustainable in the Niger Delta region, PANDEF will stand toe to toe with regional bodies, such as Afenifere, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Ohaneze Ndigbo.
The governor, who was represented by Professor Peter Medeh, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, said leaders in the region need to work towards building stronger institutions.
He said: “Fellow leaders of the region, we have a burden on our hands to continue to advocate for stronger institutions in our federation instead of stronger individuals. We have produced stronger individuals from this region and other regions, yet the development of our region, as well as to have back the benefits of the resources of our region, to use it to get the economy of our region to grow, has suffered.
“So, as we gather here today to articulate our gains and discuss further our unity, peace, and the development of our states, I call on all of you to use the unity in our diversity to our advantage. Many other regions have taken advantage of our disunity to further divide us.
“The time has come, especially now, when the governors of our respective states have taken it as a point of sincere commitment and dedication to unite the region. As leaders of the region, take advantage of the opportunity to discuss and develop issues that will lead to our regional development.”
In his speech, the minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, informed the people of the region that the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs was not scraped but was expanded to oversee other regional development commissions.
Lokpobiri said: “The Niger Delta Ministry was not scrapped but was expanded to coordinate regional development commissions. The ministry is still under your son. We have nothing to lose at all. We already have the NDDC and will have the South-South Development Commission, just like other regions in the country.
Speaking at the occasion, PANDEF national chairman, Senator Emmanuel Essien, called on President Bola Tinubu to put the development of the Niger Delta region on the front burner of his administration.
Essien said: “Please, let the President understand that as the goose that lays the golden egg, we should be the first to sit on the table. If you observe, during the nationwide protests, we called on our children not to join in the protests, and there was no protest in states in the Niger Delta states.
“We call on the President to keep us in a special place so that our region can look like other cities, other regions in the world that produce oil.”
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