Leaders of Niger Delta region yesterday rejected the scraping of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs by President Bola Tinubu.
The leaders described the action as “misguided” and an invitation to anarchy. They asked the president to reverse himself by preserving and sustaining the ministry under his administration.
While emphasising the compelling need to urgently correct the anomaly, they warned that the action would create “unfavorable environment with adverse consequences.”
Tinubu had while allocating portfolios to the ministerial designates on Wednesday failed to assign any of the proposed members of the federal executive council to be in charge of the ministry.
Though the Presidency had not offered any official explanation over the fate of the ministry, the action of Tinubu fueled speculations that the ministry had been scrapped under the new dispensation.
The leaders of the oil-region met in Abuja yesterday to review the action.
The meeting, hosted by an elder stateman and foremost leader of the region, Chief Edwin Clark, was held under the aegis of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
The communique issued after the meeting was signed by Clark, who is the national leader of the group and and the National Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien.
The emergency meeting was attended by members of the board of trustees, national and state executive members of the group drawn from all the states in the region.
The meeting discussed issues pertaining to the appointment and assignment of ministers as it affected the states of the region and South-South geo-political zone, particularly, the omission of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs from the cabinet of the present administration.
Consequently , the forum expressed great surprise that none of the ministers was designated to head the existing Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and reminded Tinubu about the vision of the founders of the ministry.
The forum stated in the communique, “Reminds Mr. President that the Ministry of Niger Delta was created, specifically, to “focus on infrastructural development, environmental protection and empowerment of youths in the oil-rich Niger Delta region”, which continues to be greatly impacted by the oil and gas industry, and remains the live-wire of the national economy.
“That the ministry,,which was created by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2008, and was sustained under his two immediate predecessors (Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari) to help advance the course of the peace in the Niger Delta region.
“Therefore, calls on Mr. President to urgently address the omission.
“Cautions that any misguided step toward scrapping or submerging the ministry will create an unfavorable environment with adverse consequences.
“Further cautions the federal government to desist from tampering with any institution(s), which along with the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, have been flagship institution(s), to ensure peace and development in the Niger Delta region.
“We are hopeful that the federal government will be properly advised on this matter, even as we reiterate the commitment of the leadership of PANDEF and the people of the region to enduring the reign of peace and stability in the overall interest of country.”
