The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has condemned the alleged persecution and humiliation of former President Goodluck Jonathan and his family as well as the seeming silence of President Muhammadu Buhari on the development.
The forum issued a communiqué at the end of its meeting at Kiagbodo in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, the country home of Ijaw National Leader Chief Edwin Clark.
The communiqué was signed by Chief Clark as Convener/Leader with former Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom State, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (retd), as the Acting Chairman of PANDEF’s Central Working Committee.
The body, which drew participants from various ethnic nationalities in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, expressed dissatisfaction over a recent statement credited to the Special Adviser on Media to the President, Femi Adesina.
The statement allegedly said the Presidency was still searching for credible representatives for the region.
PANDEF described the statement as insulting.
The forum, which expressed concern over the destruction of life and property in the South of Kaduna State, urged the government to take avert further bloodshed in the area.
It advised the Federal Government to release over N1 trillion owed the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The communiqué reads: “The forum takes very strong exception to the statement credited to Special Adviser on Media to the President, Mr Femi Adesina, that the President was still in search of credible leaders of the Niger Delta, with whom to dialogue. This is an assault on the sensibilities and integrity of the people of the Niger Delta.
“PANDEF remains a united body of credible and patriotic leaders who have paid their dues in various walks of life and not a body of attention-seekers, as being bandied by the enemies of the Niger Delta.
“The forum condemns the destruction of life and property in Southern Kaduna and calls on the Federal Government to urgently ensure the safety of lives in the area.
“PANDEF expresses concerns about the orchestrated assault on the family of former President Jonathan, with the obvious intention to humiliate him and finds the silence of President Buhari worrisome.
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