The board of trustees of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) kicked against the scrapping the ministry of Niger Delta Affairs by President Bola Tinubu.
Recall that the president named 45 ministers-designate recently but there was none for the Niger Delta Affairs.
The forum said in a communiqué signed by its national leader and the chairman, Messrs Edwin Clark and Emmanuel Ibok Essien at the end of its meeting in Abuja on yesterday (Friday) that the ministry was a creation of late President Umaru Yar’Adua and sustained by the successive administrations of President Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.
The group insisted that the ministry should continue to function and urged the president to nominate a minister for it or it would “create unfavourable environment with adverse consequences.”
The communiqué reads: “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 geopolitical 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 unfavourable 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.”
