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PANDEF condemns FCT minister, Nyesome Wike’s remark of labelling the organization as “the worst organization ever”.
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has expressed shock and disappointment over the disparaging comments made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, against the organization and its leadership.
The association called on the President of the federation, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to put his minister in order and ensure respect for the region’s leaders as they mitigate peace in Rivers State.
This comes after the association sent a delegation which included prominent traditional rulers, former governors, senators, ministers, retired military officers, and business leaders to the Presidency to discuss issues surrounding the crisis in the state and how to restore peace.
However, just barely twenty- four(24) hours after their visitation, The FCT minister, Nyesome Wike launched an attack against the group in a media chat and labelled them as “the worst organization ever”. He also accused the members of visiting the Presidential Villa for financial gains.
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Addressing a press conference on Friday, PANDEF’s National Chairman, Godknows Igali, condemned that action of the minister and declared his words as false and unbecoming of a serving minister.
The PANDEFF Chairman slammed the FCT minister for disrespecting prominent revered South-South leaders like the late Chief E.K. Clark and His Majesty, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, who chairs PANDEF’s Board of Trustees.
Without mincing words, the chairman said, “To set the record straight, PANDEF is the foremost socio-political body representing the South-South regions, composed of some of Nigeria’s most distinguished personalities.
“The delegation to Mr. President included chairpersons of at least four of the six South-South states’ traditional councils, senior traditional rulers of major ethnic groups, former governors, past presiding officers of the Senate, prominent entrepreneurs, academics, and high-ranking retired military officers.
“It is, therefore, highly regrettable and totally unacceptable that a serving minister in the Federal Government would exhibit such brazen disrespect towards individuals of this standing.
The chairman re-emphasized the organization’s commitment to achieve lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region; insisting that their visit to the presidency bordered on how to restore peace in Rivers State through PANDEF’s mediatory efforts, secure Presidential assent for the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) Bill, speed up infrastructure projects, particularly roads and ports, address the socio-economic impact of the Bakassi crisis, increase South-South representation in the oil and gas sector, implement environmental cleanup in oil-producing states and advocate for true federalism and restructuring.
He also condemned the refusal of the FCT Minister to engage with the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which PANDEF constituted as far back as October 2024, despite repeated attempts to reach him.
He urged President Tinubu to call the Minister to order and ensure he retracts his inflammatory statements against the organization and extends due respect to the leaders.
“The Minister does not own the Niger Delta, and his errant conduct should not be condoned,” he concluded.
