Ijaw youth leader tells Pandef to first of all restructure Niger Delta talking about Nigeria

IMMEDIATE past president of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Udengs Eradiri has challenged the Pan Niger Delta Forum (Pandef) to restructure the Ijaw nation first before making calls for the restructuring of Nigeria.

Over the weekend, Pandef leaders joined other socio-cultural groups from across the country in the Bayelsa State capital Yenagoa, to drive home their demand for immediate restructuring of the Nigerian federation. In what was could easily pass for one of the single largest gatherings of ethnic nationalities in recent times, leaders drawn from the Niger Delta, southwest, southeast and the Middle Belt, highlighted the need for the President Muhammadu Buhari government to expedite action and begin the process of renegotiating the current federal structure.

However, Mr Eradiri urged Pandef to restructure the Ijaw nation first before making calls for the restructuring of Nigeria, adding that the group has failed in its responsibility as a pan Niger Delta group. He added that Pandef has lost focus and cannot gather other nationalities in the region towards championing the developmental agenda of Niger Delta.

Mr Eradiri said: “This Bayelsa rally was their usual way of deceiving Governor Seriake Dickson. Where are the other south-south leaders?

"Pandef has lost focus and cannot gather any other ethnic nationality in the region. It is a vote of no confidence.”

He added that these individuals will constantly put Governor Dickson in an embarrassing situation till he looks inward and sees what they have created in the nation he cherishes so much. According to Mr Eradiri, something is fundamentally wrong as the old ideas can no longer meet the realities and challenges of the present day generation because blackmail and lies for favour cannot stand the test of time.