The much-expected meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and Elders and leaders under the auspices of Pan-Niger Delta Forum seems to have ended in deadlock this evening in Abuja.
The meeting perceived by many as a prelude to a full-scale dialogue between the federal government and stakeholders in the Niger-delta has ended in Abuja without a commitment from President Buhari on when negotiation and dialogue would commence.
Speaking exclusively to The New Diplomat shortly after the meeting on condition of anonymity, a stakeholder, and leader from the region who was in attendance, expressed disappointment at the outcome of the meeting, saying that it ended in a fiasco.
According to him, the leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, articulated the position of the Niger-delta people but Buhari avoided the main issues while responding. He only urged the leaders to go home, ensure peace and identify the militants and their operational bases.
“Clark spoke as a statesman, raised 17 issues on behalf of the region for dialogue and urged the President to name a negotiating team. But the president rather ignored the salient issues raised and asked the Niger Delta leaders to go home to ensure peace; identify names and leaders of the militant groups and where they operate. Buhari did not promise negotiation at any time,” the source disclosed.
The New Diplomat also gathered that the Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu who was part of Mr. President’s team in the meeting, “expressed courage and patriotism in his address”. The source, however, expressed hope that “the struggle continues.”
The meeting between President Buhari and the leaders of Niger Delta under the aegis of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) was planned for the purpose of putting together a team between the federal government and stakeholders in the Niger Delta with a view to dialogue and negotiate enduring peace in the volatile region.
