Disagreement between Clark’s PANDEF, Botu’s PNDPC fuels Avengers’ threat

The disagreement between the Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and the Pan Niger Peoples Congress (PNDPC) led by the Paramount ruler of Siembiri Kingdom in Bayelsa State, Dr Charles Ayeni Botu, is responsible for the fresh threat by the Niger Delta Avengers to resume hostilities in the region, Daily Trust has learnt.

The Niger Delta Avengers who had embraced peace and stopped the destruction of oil installations issued warning Saturday to the Federal Government that it would resume hostilities in the Niger Delta region.

The group in an online statement signed by its spokesman , Murdoch Agbinibo cautioned that unlike how they destroyed oil installations but spared human lives last year, they would this time not spare anything or anyone in their path to destroy the country’s economy.

Murdoch said the Federal Government had failed to meet its 10-point demands, including immediate implementation of the 2014 National Conference Report, the take-off of the Niger Delta University, Okerenkoko; prosecution of alleged corrupt APC members, among others.

The renewed threat by the Avengers was coming on the heels of a faceoff between Chief Clark and Dr Charles Botu over issues concerning the development of the Niger Delta region.

Pan Niger Peoples Congress’ Dr Charles Botu who spoke to reporters in Port Harcourt, dismissed Clark’s PANDEF as an opportunistic group, saying that the people of Niger Delta region had rejected the PANDEF.

He asserted that the same militant youths who confirmed legitimacy on PANDEF had withdrawn it. He said, “The leader of the group, Chief E.K Clark should quietly go to Kiagbodo, his country home to rest in retirement.”

The spokesman of PANDEF and Ijaw elder statesman, Chief Anabs Sara Igbe blamed the threat by the Niger Avengers to resume hostilities on Dr Charles Botu (who has the support of the Avengers).

He said, “It’s unfortunate that Avengers are coming back. I blame Dr Charles Botu and his co-travellers for the threat. The Federal Government is yet to implement our 16-point demand but we will continue to engage them in dialogue as panacea for lasting peace.”