Niger Delta militant groups sack Edwin Clark and Pandef as their spokesman electing new body

NIGER Delta militant groups have elected a new set of leaders to negotiate with the federal government on behalf of the region having passed a vote of no confidence in the Pan Niger Delta Forum (Pandef)  led by elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark.

 

Last month, a coalition of Niger Delta militant youth groups withdrew their support for Pandef and said they were calling off negotiations with the federal government because that had no faith in the process. Pandef, led by Chief Edwin Clark, Nigeria's had been negotiating with the government on behalf of the Niger Delta.

 

Yesterday, the militant coalition announced the formation of Pan Niger Delta People's Congress (PNDPC), to dialogue with the federal government on behalf of the people of the oil region. The 13-man PNDPC team headed by a younger Niger Delta leader High Chief Mike Loyibo, has the former governor of Bayelsa State Chief Timipre Sylva and two prominent monarchs as it members.

 

A former national chairman of the Traditional Rulers of Oil Minerals Producing Communities of Nigeria and the paramount ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom, His Majesty Charles Ayemi-Botu and  King Joshua Igbugburu are members. Convener and leader of the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, self-styled Major General Johnmark Ezonbi, also known as Obama, announced the membership of the new executive following a meeting at Oloibiri.

 

He said: “Professor Benjamin Okaba , former chairman of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission; Chief Wellington Okrika, Professor Etim Eyong,  Mercy Almona-Isei, Air Vice Marshal Austine Ekon, the national president of Host Communities of Nigeria;  Bishop Mike Emuh , a renowned oil and gas expert, Reverend OJ Agbarah, Justice Chris Ajama and Pastor Victor Egoh are members of the body."

 

Militant groups in the coalition include the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, the Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders Council, the Niger Delta Supreme Egbesu Fighters, the Niger Delta Red Scorpion Fighters, the Niger Delta Youth Mandate for Justice, the Niger Delta Liberation Force, the Niger Delta Fighters for Resource Control, the Niger Delta Fighters for Urhobo Resource Control and the Bakassi People Liberation Force. However, Chief Loyibo said he was not aware of the new group and his selection by militants to lead the region.

 

He added: “It is a welcome development and I will do my best to effectively represent the region if that is what the boys in the creeks want. I have demonstrated integrity over the years and have been part of the Niger Delta negotiation team with the federal government and we have not relented and will pursue the new phase with integrity."

 

Chief Loyibo commended Chief Clark for the leadership he offered his region, saying that he did his best for Niger Delta even as a nonagenarian. It appears that other members of the executive committee had not heard about the election too.

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