PANDEF, militants clash over mandate to represent N’Delta
Read Time:3 Minute, 18 Second
A coalition of militants’ groups in the Niger Delta and the Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Forum have engaged in war of words over which group has the people’s mandate to represent the region.
The coalition, under the aegis of Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, accused Clark-led PANDEF of acting the script of the Peoples Democratic Party in fighting for the Niger Delta cause.
The coalition alleged that PANDEF was an arm of the PDP and also working against the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The militants, in a communiqué on Friday signed by its leader, ‘Major’ Johnmark Ezonbi, and sent via email to journalists, claimed that PANDEF was structured as an opposition tool of the PDP.
It further claimed that the PDP, which PANDEF aligned with, could not develop the long neglected region despite being in power for 16 years.
The coalition said, “The huge resources that accrued to the Niger Delta through the 13 per cent oil derivation funds from the Federal Government were looted by the so-called PANDEF leaders.
“Most members of PANDEF were former appointed or elected political office holders in the Niger Delta region but did not use their privileged positions to impact positively on the lives of the people or region but looted the resources of the nation with impunity.’’
The group stated that PANDEF was parading a retinue of “failed politicians and national treasury looters’’ who contributed to the underdevelopment of the region.
The coalition insisted that PANDEF was disbanded and it remained so, advising the state, federal governments and their agencies to stop dealing with the group under any guise on behalf of the region.
Reacting, Clark in an interview with our correspondent, said the allegations were untrue, wicked, malicious and mischievous, insisting that the coalition did not exist.
Clark, who said PANDEF did not have bias towards any political party, boasted that the group was made up of people with proven track records of achievements and integrity.
The Ijaw leader stated, ‘’I do not think such a coalition of militants exist. Who are they? Both the Chairman of the executive of PANDEF, Chief Alfred Diete-Spiff and Obong Attah, the co-chairman, are not PDP members. The Secretary of the extended committee, Mr. Ledum Mitee, is not PDP. There are many prominent men who are APC members that are in the organisation. PANDEF is a non-partisan group. It does not work for any political party.
“There are APC, PDP and all organisations in PANDEF; so it is a non-partisan body. It is just like Afenifere, Ohaneze, Arewa Consultative Forum, Middle Belt Forum and that is the capacity we have been operating.’’
On the alleged withdrawal of mandate from PANDEF, Clark said the group was talking rubbish, saying the so-called coalition did not have the capacity to disband PANDEF.
He added, “PANDEF comprises men and women of integrity and honour. We have responsible traditional rulers in our fold. The so-called coalition of militants does not exist.
“We are not anti-Buhari. If we are keeping the peace in the Niger Delta and there is no crisis in the region, are we not doing it in favour of Buhari’s government? If we are anti-Buhari, then we will allow the crisis to continue and the economy of the country will go down. That alone will show to you that there are not responsible human beings in the coalition.
“Coming to their allegation, who are the failed politicians in PANDEF? I am the leader and convener of PANDEF. I was a senator and also a minister in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Am I a failed politician? Is Obong Attah, a former governor of Akwa Ibom, a failed politician? They are talking rubbish.’’
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