Nation
PANDEF Rejects Passed PIB
The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), has knocked the National Assembly over the newly passed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), saying it did not meet the yearnings of the Niger Delta people.
The regional group also warned that conflicts may continue in the oil-rich region if host communities were denied their legitimate rights.
PANDEF, 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.
It frowned at the continuous use of interim management to run the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The group 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.
The National Leader of PANDEF, Senator Edwin Kiagbodo 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, attended the meeting.
Others in attendance were PANDEF National Woman Leader, Chief Betty Igbeyi; former Resident Electoral Commissioner, Edo State, Dr. Rose Obuoforibo; former member, House of Representatives, Chief Olivia Agbajoh; former Commissioner, DESOPADEC, Chief Ominimini Obiuwevwi; and former National Secretary, Traditional Rulers of Oil Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON), Prince Maikpbo Okareme.
The group’s resolutions, contained in a communique by 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 November 1, 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.
“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”.
Rivers state Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Nma Odu has commended “The Port Harcourt City One Love,”a Port Harcourt based humanitarian orgnisation For it’s commitment towards alleviating the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable in the society.
Professor Ngozi Nma Odu said this while speaking at this year’s edition of “operation feed the needy” a yearly outreach program of “The Port Harcourt City One Love ” in Port Harcourt.
The Deputy Governor said by feeding more than sixty thousands hungry people within the past six years, the Port Harcourt City One Love Movement has distinguished itself as a club that cares for the less privilege in the society.
She commended the , organization for listing eleven thousand persons to be fed in the current exercise.
Meanwhile The Port Harcourt City One Love has planned a permanent solution to the problem of feeding the poor in the state.
The leader of the group Mr Idaere Gogo Ogan who said this in an interview with newsmen during the distribution of food items to the poor and vulnerables in Port Harcourt said the organization is planning a permanent food kitchen where poor and vulnerable persons can work in anytime and get fed.
Idaere Gogo Ogan said more than sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons across Port Harcourt City and environs have been fed since the inception of “The operation feed the needy” program six years ago,adding that so far sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons have beneffited.
He described the group as a platform to promote friendship, brotherhood, community development empathy and feeding the less privilege and hungry people
“That’s what we are doing today here,so we started the exercise six years ago”.he said.
Ogan said the effort was a private sector driven initiative but added “it also involves people in Government because the platform does not recognize any division,we bring everybody together in unity , friendship and brotherhood”he said.
He said the effort will go along way in alleviating hunger especially following the prevailing hunger in the country.
According to him “you know the country is very tough, people are hungry people are starving, there is a whole lot of economic hardship,so for us, this is just our own way of reaching out, our own social contribution to what is very difficult”he said.
Over eleven thousand persons were fed in the just concluded exercise.
Areas of coverage include, Isaac Boro park, Port Harcourt prison/Macoba, Borokiri/Enugu waterside Bundu areas Waterlines and others.
Some of the beneficiaries including an 80 years old widow commended the movement for the annual programm and urged other organizations to emulate them
John Bibor,/Esuuk Oyet/Suotor Memoye /Jeremiah Hannah
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