PANDEF National Chairman, Amb Igali Inaugurates Lagos Chapter Chairman & Executives

In an interactive meeting of PANDEF National Executives with Niger Deltans resident in Lagos, the National Chairman of PANDEF, Ambassador Godknows Igali, charged Niger Deltans to have unity and speak with one voice to achieve a common and purposeful development for the Niger Delta Region.

Amb. Igali emphasised the marginalization of the Niger Delta people even before independence, which led to their leaders protesting to London. This led to the delay of the Nigerian independence and the setting up of Willink’s commission.

According to the National Chairman, “PANDEF belongs to all Niger Deltans. It did not belong to National Executives. We are only working for all Niger Deltans, Igali explained.

“We can tell our children that at a time, some soldiers seized powers and gave 44 LGAs and over 24 House of Reps to Kano State but gave only 8 LGAs and 5 House of Reps to Bayelsa State and that we couldn’t talk because of the fear of guns but we can’t tell our children that in a democratic era such as this, that we couldn’t speak to the powers that be over our plights and the marginalization of the Region.”

“It is on this basis that we must have unity and speak with one voice instead of speaking separately as Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Ndokwa, Ibibio, Anang, Oron, Efik, Ijagham, Edo, Ishan or Isoko, Ogini etc, “Igali added.

The National Chairman said, “The Midwest State was not given to our people on the platter of gold. Our leaders fought for it. Therefore, we must imbibe the spirit of our past leaders which was handed over to us by our late leader, Chief Edwin Clark, who was given the mantle of leadership at the formation of PANDEF, which had eminent Niger Deltans including First Class Monarchs like Oba of Benin, Orodje of Okpe, Olu of Warri, Obong of Calabar, Agadagba of Egbema in the year 2016 to lead PANDEF”.

The National Chairman stated how PANDEF visited the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and handed over the Region’s 16-point demands to Mr. President. He was of the opinion that PANDEF Lagos shall be like a global organization after inauguration more so as it shall be led by a scholar, Prof Hope Eghagha.

“We shall, in no distance time organize a Niger Delta cultural festival that may take place in Lagos, and the country shall see that we have unity in Niger Delta. Our oil was used to develop Lagos and Abuja to our detriment. No land is better than Niger Delta for agriculture,” Igali said.

“We have decided to raise funds for investment to be called South South Investment Fund, where some of our people can invest in the oil and non oil sector. We must save to invest,” he added.

“PANDEF from the beginning had eminent persons such as Gen Minima, a former Chief of Army Staff as River State Chapter Chairman; Late Solomon Arase, former IGP as the chairman of the Edo State Chapter; Prof G.G Darah as Chairman of Delta State Chapter, Senator Henshaw as the State Chairman of Cross River Chapter; Late Dokpola, piloting the affairs of Bayelsa State Chapter with Late Air Cdr Idongesit Ikanga, a former Governor as the National Chairman.”

He said, “Though we may not be able to wear the shoes Late Chief Edwin Clark left behind, but we shall continue to try our best even if it means bearing them with our hands”.

Responding on behalf of the Lagos based Niger Deltans, Prof Hope Eghagha noted the pity negligence of the Seaports in Niger Delta and the East West Roads. The House appreciated the efforts of the PANDEF National Exco and decried the abandonment of the Ogidigben EPZ gas project by the Federal Government.

The house noted the selective unjust treatment of the Opuoma Community in Delta State, where it was burnt down by the military command with persons arrested and detained to date without trial. And this is against the principle of justice and fair hearing, the meeting noted.

The house also called on Mr. President to ensure that the constitutional and democratically elected Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalaye Fubara, is restore to the office without further delay.

The interim exco for Lagos State was put in place with

1. Prof Hope Eghagha from Delta State as Chairman.

2. Chief Patrick Iyang from Cross River State as Deputy Chairman

3. Prince Emnanuel Abderson Ogan from Rivers State as Secretary

4. Sylvester Ebhodaghe from Edo State as Publicity Secretary

5. Iwekumo Idris from Bayelsa as women leader

They were inaugurated by the Natiinal Chairman on behalf of the PANDEF Board of Trustees and Nation Executive Committee by the National Chairman, Amb Godknows Igali.