• Pulls out of peace deal

From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has pulled out its representation from the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), over what it called irreconcilable differences.
MEND had rallied support for the Chief Edwin Clark and King Alfred Diete-Spiff-led PANDEF in its talks with the Federal Government to enthrone lasting peace in the Niger Delta.
Last Thursday, PANDEF had threatened to pull out of peace negotiations with the Federal Government on November 1, if the 16-point demand, a delegation of PANDEF presented to President Muhammadu Buhari on September 1, 2015 was not addressed.
But MEND, in a statement by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, said the coalition of elders and leaders of the oil-rich region lacked moral justification to give the Federal Government ultimatum.
It accused PANDEF of duplicity and insincerity, saying PANDEF failed to pinpoint the failures of the former president Goodluck Jonathan administration when Jonathan held sway as president for six ‘wasted’ years.
According to MEND, PANDEF rather than harassing the Federal Government should have commended the Federal Government for exposing the monumental corruption under the Jonathan presidency.
Gbomo said the stakeholders, who were silent under the ‘wasted’ years of Jonathan in power have ‘miraculously’ regained their voice.
The militant group also accused PANDEF of issuing threats to the Federal Government through some militant groups.
“PANDEF, led by elder statesmen, Chief Edwin Clark and King Alfred Diete-Spiff, lack the moral justification in giving an ultimatum to the federal government and making demands they never made from Jonathan when he was at the helm for six wasted years.
“Instead of listening to the so-called Niger Delta activists and the compromised Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), who have miraculously regained the voices they lost when Jonathan was president, and instead of issuing threats through fake internet-based militant groups, PANDEF ought to have used the forum and opportunity to commend the Federal Government for exposing the monumental looting of our commonwealth by some sons and daughters of the soil, starting from the former president, his wife, Patience, cousins, relatives and cronies and so many other traitors; down to the mind-boggling theft by Diezani Alison-Madueke, who empowered others while her people lived in squalor and abject poverty.
“PANDEF is also pretending not to notice that the amnesty programme is still operating on the corrupt template that still pays ghost militants after it hoodwinked the government into believing in the fraud. A programme that has neglected the children of the dead freedom fighters and those in prison, for those that never made any sacrifice is cursed.
“In view of our irreconcilable differences, MEND hereby recalls its representatives in PANDEF for consultation with immediate effect.”

… PANDEF’s demand selfish, unpatriotic, says NDPC

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye

Niger Delta Peoples Congress (NDPC) has described, as selfish and unpatriotic the ultimatum given to the Federal Government.
Convener of NDPC, Mike Loyibo, in a statement, said considering the right steps taken so far by the Federal Government towards a permanent solution to the age-long crisis that had bedevilled the region as led by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo,  decision of PANDEF, which is just one of the many groups in the region, cannot be binding on everybody.
Loyibo insisted that the Federal Government has demonstrated so much passion and commitment towards the region.
According to him, “There’s no need for the Federal  Government to negotiate with any group, rather, the presidency should go back to the people in the host communities just the same way the acting president went round initially to seek their buy-in. After all, it was not PANDEF that secured peace in the region.
“They have consulted widely and a road map has already been fashioned out. The Federal Government should not allow any group to slow it down, rather immediate action should be taken to tackle already identified issues.
“The oil companies should be compelled to relocate to the region as previously instructed by the acting president. The Maritime University needs immediate action. The modular refineries should kick off immediately. The NDDC as presently constituted should not stand. The amnesty programme should be well funded, further strengthened and re-engineered. The Ogoni clean-up should go ahead and the model used for other neglected communities in the region.
“PANDEF does not represent all interest groups in the region. No group should engage the Federal Government on lengthy talks at this time. We have gone beyond that and beside, PANDEF is not a total and accurate reflection of the region.
“At the same time, nobody or group should blackmail the Federal Government. The Federal Government should go ahead to implement based on the road map that’s already carved out.
“Our son, former president, Goodluck Jonathan was in office for so many years and these same people that presently constitute PANDEF were the principal actors around him. They were not able to achieve anything in the region and how come they are now turning the pressure on a young government.”