The Pan Niger Delta Conference, PANDEF, on Tuesday told the Federal Government that the Niger Delta region would not abandon the fight for equity and economic justice, notwithstanding government’s regular deployment of military forces to frighten the people.
PANDEF, led by former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark, who received a vote of confidence from the members, took the resolution at an emergency general assembly in Effurun, Delta State.
The group defied the threat by a militant group, Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, RNDA, to hold the Tuesday’s meeting.
The group had earlier threatened to disrupt the meeting, but unlike the October 26 assembly interrupted by the Police and DSS in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the Police and Army provided security for the Effurun meeting.
Leaders of the group also confirmed that the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, which, early this month, threatened to resume hostilities, had granted the Federal Government a three-month stay of execution, following the intervention of PANDEF. Chief Clark, former Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom State, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (retd); former Minister of Aviation, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas; former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo; former Minister of Lands and Housing, Dr. Nduese Essien, were among the over 400 delegates that attended the meeting.
Former Chief of Staff, Delta State, Prof. G.G. Darah; representative of Olu of Warri, Olorogun Olivia Agbajoh; Secretary-General of TROMPCON, Col Tony Nyiam (retd); HRM Oba Obayemi Ogbaro; former Coordinator of Pan Niger Delta People’s Congress, PNDPC, Chief Mike Loyibo; Dr. Mike Asemota; Dr. Ejiofor Onyia; Mrs. Doris Mokobia and IYC President, Pereotubo Oweilaemi, also attended the meeting.
