The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has expressed displeasure over the failure of President Bola Tinubu to name the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs following this week’s assignment of portfolios to Ministers-designate.
The communiqué which was signed by its National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark and National Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien and released at the end of their meeting in Abuja on Friday, August 18.
The group stated that the ministry which was created by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and sustained by the successive administrations of President Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari must continue to function.
Also read: Ministers of Petroleum, Niger Delta Affairs Absent as Tinubu assigns portfolios to others
However, SaharaReporters quoted government sources on Thursday that the Ministry of Niger Delta was scrapped by the President because there is also the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
PANDEF urged President Tinubu to nominate a minister for Niger Delta Affairs, threatening that scrapping the ministry would be met with “adverse consequences.”
The communiqué read in part, “The meeting discussed issues pertaining to the ongoing appointment and assignment of Ministers, as it affects the States of the Niger Delta region and South-South geo-political zone, particularly, the omission of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.”
The meeting “Expresses great surprise that in the published assignment of Ministers to their various cabinet portfolios, there is none designated for the existing Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
“Reminds Mr President that the Ministry of Niger Delta was created, specifically, to ‘focus on infrastructural development, environmental protection and empowerment of youths in the oil-rich Niger Delta region,’ which continues to be greatly impacted by the oil and gas industry, and remains the live-wire of the national economy.
“That the Ministry was created by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2008, and was sustained under his two immediate predecessors (Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari) to help advance the course of the peace in the Niger Delta region.”
While calling on President Tinubu to urgently address the omission, the Forum warned “That any misguided step toward scrapping or submerging the ministry will create an unfavorable environment with adverse consequences.
“We further caution the Federal Government to desist from tampering with any institution(s), which along with the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, have been flagship institution(s), to ensure peace and development in the Niger Delta region.
“We are hopeful that the Federal Government will be properly advised on this matter, even as we reiterate the commitment of the leadership of PANDEF and the people of the region to enduring the reign of peace and stability in the overall interest “That the ministry which was created by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2008, and was sustained under his two immediate predecessors (Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari) to help advance the course of the peace in the Niger Delta region.”
