Buhari reneges on his promises to N/Delta – PANDEF

The leadership of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of reneging on the 16-point agreement entered with it in 2016.

The national chairman of the forum, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (Rtd), in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State yesterday, said one of the agreements with Buhari was that there should be a dialogue so that leaders of the region could outline problems confronting the area.

He said the region was calling for restructuring so that the Niger Delta people would be properly accommodated in the scheme of things in the nation.

He said: “PANDEF was born as a child of necessity so that people of Niger Delta can speak with one voice. In November 2016, we met with Mr President and that meeting resulted in a 16 point agenda, and what should have followed was supposed to be a dialogue between Niger Delta leaders and the Federal Government so that we can look at the problems that we have in our region, but since then, Mr President is not bothering about our plights.

“Restructuring, fiscal federalism is not negotiable because it will translate into true federalism and revolution of powers to federating units, that is the only thing that can make Nigeria a balanced nation.”

He urged the state chapter of the forum to go into the nooks and crannies of Niger Delta, including creeks, to preach peace and the need for restructuring.

The newly inaugurated chairman of PANDEF in Bayelsa State, Chief Thompson Okorotie, said that they would ensure that the Niger Delta region experience an enduring peace.