By Ayo Yusuf
First Republic Minister of Information and leader of Pan-Niger-Delta Forum, PANDEF, Chief Edwin Clark has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to scrap or merge the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to avoid very adverse consequences.
Clark also decried the failure of the President to name a minister for the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, asking him to correct the omission as a matter of urgency.
The prominent regional forum following an emergency meeting in Abuja Friday, reminded President Tinubu that any misguided step towards the scrapping or submerging of the Ministry will create an unfavorable environment with adverse consequences.
In a Communiqué issued on Friday at the end of an emergency meeting of the Board of Trustees of PANDEF, the group while noting that it would be a serious disservice to the people of the Niger Delta region not to a have a minister, said that the Ministry was specifically created 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.
President Tinubu had on Wednesday this week, assigned portfolios to 45 of the 48 Ministers he appointed recently and there was no Minister for the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs that was created by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2008.
The Communique was signed by PANDEF National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark and Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, the group’s national Chairman.
The Communique reads, “An emergency meeting of the Board of Trustees (BOT) and National Executive Committee of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) held in Abuja, on Friday, 18th August 2023.
“The meeting was chaired by the National Leader, Chief Dr. E. K. Clark, OFR, CON, and in attendance were the National Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, FNSE, Members of the Board of Trustees, as well as National and State Officers.
“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 resolves as follows: 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 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.
“THEREFORE, CALLS ON MR. PRESIDENT TO URGENTLY ADDRESS THE OMISSION.
“Cautions that any misguided step toward SCRAPPING OR SUBMERGING the Ministry, will create an unfavorable environment with adverse consequences.
“Further cautions 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 of country.
” Issued and Adopted at the end of an Emergency Meeting in Abuja, this 18th Day of August 2023.”
