President Bola Tinubu is meeting with leaders of the Pan Niger Delta Forum at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.
Tuesday’s meeting began at 04:15 pm (local time) when the President arrived at the venue.
Convened by the elder statesman, Edwin Clark, who passed away in February, PANDEF is the mouthpiece of the traditional rulers, leaders, and stakeholders of the coastal states of the Niger Delta.
At Tinubu’s request, the gathering observed a minute’s silence in Clark’s honour.
It is one of a series of meetings between the President and Niger Delta leaders.
On January 21, 2025, President Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with key stakeholders from Rivers State, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, former Governor Nyesom Wike, and leaders from Ogoni communities.
The discussions centered on advancing the Ogoni cleanup project and addressing environmental and developmental concerns in the Niger Delta.
The President emphasised the need for unity and collaboration to heal past wounds and foster progress, stating, “We can’t heal past wounds if we continue to be angry.”
According to the programme spotted by our correspondent, there would be remarks by the Chairman, Board of Trustees of PANDEF; King Alfred Diete-Spiff, Co-Chairman, Board of Trustees of PANDEF, Obong Victor Attah, a statement by PANDEF’s National Chairman, Godknows Igali and President Tinubu’s response.
Seated for the meeting are Senator Seriake Dickson; Professor Mike Ozakhome; former Cross River State governor, Mr Liyel Imoke; former Rivers Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru; former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Timi Alaibe.
Others are Jaja of Opobo, Professor Dandeson Jaja; Senator Ita Enang; Senator Bassey Henshaw; Mrs Ibim Semenitari, former acting Managing Director of the NDDC; Uche Secondus; Senator Andrew Uchendu; National Coordinator of Host Communities of Nigeria, HOSTCOM, Okareme Maikpobi; Niger Delta activist, Ms Ann-Kio Briggs; spokesman of PANDEF, Chief Obiwevbi Ominimini.
