PANDEF tackles Buhari over silence on abduction, detention of Nnamdi Kanu

By JOHN NWOKOCHA, Abuja

. . . Warns FG against non-implementation of 16-point agenda

. . . Says it supports South-West, condemns invasion of Sunday Igboho’s residence by agents of government

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has challenged the Federal Government to tell Nigerians the truth of the process which led to the “abduction of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and his clandestine, forceful repatriation to Nigeria”, adding that it hopes that Kanu will be given a fair and open trial, as conflicting stories regarding how the IPOB leader was arrested in Kenya continue to emerge.

While the Federal Government has kept sealed lips on the issue, Nnamdi Kalu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, on Friday said that his client was actually arrested on June19, tortured, arrested and now suffering from heart problem he developed in custody.

PANDEF also cautioned against the witch-hunt of imagined sponsors of the IPOB leader, saying that “the reported identification of sponsors of Nnamdi Kanu, should not be an alibi to witch-hunt and persecute phantom enemies imagined by the government”.

Emerging from its well-attended two days extraordinary meeting in Abuja, under the Co-chairmanship of its National Leader, Chief E. K. Clark, and National Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, PANDEF equally took a swipe at the Federal Government over the invasion of the Ibadan residence of Chief Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a Sunday Igboho, by security operatives. PANDEF in a 14-point communique frowned at what it called “brutal and bloody midnight raid” of the Yoruba rights activist’s home.

“We condemn the brutal and bloody midnight raid on the residence of a Yoruba Rights Activist, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, in the Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State, by agents of the Department of State Services, DSS, in a Gestapo manner, during which innocent citizens were killed and properties destroyed,” PANDEF said.

Saying that it stands in solidarity with Afenifere, and the South-West people, on this matter, PANDEF called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately call to order the security agencies and cease all forms of flagrant abuse of power.

The group decried the continued non-implementation of its16-Point Agenda presented to Buhari on November 1, 2016. It warned of the likely consequences of ignoring them, stressing that there might be “likely deleterious consequences of ignoring, or treating with contempt, the 16-Point Agenda”.

“Currently, the Youth in the Niger Delta have declared a ‘Vote of No Confidence’ on PANDEF, because it was the leaders of the Region that stayed their hand when, in frustration, they had decided to cripple the national economy, in 2016,” PANDEF said in the communiqué.

It also kicked against the recently passed of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) by both the House of Representatives and Senate, noting that the Bill falls short of the expectations of the Niger Delta people, who bear the brunt of the consequences of the oil and gas industry operations in their lands.

According to the communiqué, “PANDEF recalls, and reiterates, that Host Communities, of the Niger Delta Region, had demanded 10% Equity participation, as against the percentages just passed by the National Assembly. And maintains its long-held logical demand that, unless stakeholders of the Oil and Gas Host Communities are given sufficient rights in the management and operation of the industry, conflicts in the oil-rich region may persist.

“Further decries the continued neglect, even outright abandonment, of critical infrastructural projects in the Niger Delta Region, by the Federal Government, such as the East-West Road; the Gas Revolution Industrial Park, Ogidigben and the Omadinor – Escravos Road projects both in Delta State; the Calabar – Ikot Ekpene Road; amongst several others.

“Strongly condemns the unending span of an Interim Management for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the detriment of the Region. Warns that the situation threatens the peace and stability of the Region, and therefore, calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to constitute the Board and Management of the NDDC, in line with the Act establishing the Commission, without any further delay.

“Restates PANDEF’s commitment to sustaining collaborations with similar groups and organizations in the country, to achieve national consensus on the numerous thorny issues confronting the country.

“Stands, firmly, in solidarity with the people of the Middle Belt Region, in the face of brutal physical attacks and seeming plans to destroy their every means of livelihood, by suspected Fulani gunmen.

“Restates its position on the Restructuring of the Country, and insists that Nigeria cannot continue in the present trajectory of a flawed Constitution and undemocratic tendencies of those operating it.”

In attendance at the meeting were members of the PANDEF Board of Trustees; members of National and State Executive Committees, as well as key stakeholders of the Niger Delta Region, including:

Chief Hon. T. K. Okorotie, PANDEF Deputy National Chairman; Rt. Hon. Nduese Essien, former Minister of Housing, Lands and Urban Development; Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, former Chairman, NDDC; Senator Inatimi Rufus-Spiff, former Secretary to the Government of Rivers State; Chief Mrs. Betty Igbeyi, mni, PANDEF National Woman Leader; Dr. Mrs. Rose Obuoforibo, former Resident Electoral Commissioner, Edo State; Chief Mrs. Olivia Agbajoh, former Member Federal House of Representatives; Chief Dr. Sir Ominimini Obiuwevwi, former Commissioner, DESOPADEC.