Punch - The Founding Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Chief Edwin Clark, has said restructuring is what is required to improve and sustain the peace currently being enjoyed in the Niger Delta region.
According to him, the current federal structure which cedes 52 per cent of revenues accruable to the federation account is not sustainable in a nation desirous of catching up with the rest of the world in terms of development.
Clark said this while receiving in audience the newly elected leadership of the group in his residence in Abuja, on Friday.
He explained that his support for restructuring was borne out of a desire to see a more prosperous Nigeria where every citizen will have a true sense of belonging.
The elder statesman said a restructured Nigeria will be a nation “where equality of citizenship, equal development of all areas and where power will shift to the states or regions.”
He noted that the current situation where federal government receives over 52 percent of the national revenue, will not lead to an egalitarian society.
Clark observed that PANDEF was established in 2016 to help resolve the crises in the Niger-Delta region and vandalization of oil pipelines. He noted that there is peace in the region today due to efforts of PANDEF.
He recalled that the group met with President Buhari on November 1, 2016 and presented a 16-point agenda to him, adding that despite that, nothing has been done to develop the region.
He said, “We wanted dialogue with the President so that he will know what is going on in the region, the oil pollution, the eco system that has been destroyed and environmental degradation.
“PANDEF was formed to draw the attention of the federal government to the fact that the region is very much undeveloped”.
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He further said “Except for the take off of the Maritime University and the upgrading of the Maritime Academy, Oron, which has passed second reading at the National Assembly, other items in the 16-point agenda presented to President Buhari have not been attended to”.
Earlier, Chairman of the group, and former military governor of Akwa Ibom State, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (Retd.) explained that PANDEF’s visit was specifically to express gratitude to the elder statesman for his contributions in the emancipation of the people of Niger-Delta and to ask for his blessings.
Responding, the Coordinator of Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo said,
“I believe in the course of the Niger-Delta. I believe that a powerful organization like PANDEF can collaborate with us and guide our people because we cannot afford to fail them.
“We have to empower our people and stabilize their lifestyle so that they can fit in this technological age. This Amnesty programme is a work in progress.”
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