The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has asked President Bola
Tinubu to urgently address the omission of a minister of Niger Delta affairs in
his cabinet.
On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu assigned portfolios to
minister-designates some days after they were confirmed by the senate. But the
president omitted the Niger Delta affairs ministry from the list.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting of its
board of trustees (BoT) and national executive committee (NEC) on Friday, PANDEF expressed “great surprise”
that no portfolio was designated to the existing ministry of Niger Delta
affairs.
The communique was jointly signed by Edwin Clark, PANDEF convener, and Emmanuel Essien, national chairman of the forum.
The forum reminded Tinubu that the ministry was created
specifically to “focus on infrastructural development, environmental protection
and empowerment of youths in the oil-rich Niger Delta region”.
The forum added that the ministry, which was created by the
late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2008, was sustained under Goodluck
Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, former presidents, to advance the course of the
peace in the Niger Delta region.
“Any misguided step toward scrapping or submerging the
ministry will create an unfavourable environment with adverse consequences,”
PANDEF warned.
“Further cautioned
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.”
PANDEF expressed hope that the federal government will be
properly advised on the matter, adding that its leadership and the people of
the region are committed to enduring peace and stability in the overall
interest of the country.,m
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