Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), has applauded Southern governors support for restructuring of the country and other far reaching resolutions reached at their recent meeting.
The Niger Delta socio-cultural organisation re-emphasized its positions, particularly, on restructuring, open grazing, and the alarming state of insecurity.
The group in a press statement on Wednesday signed by Hon. Ken Robinson, its National Publicity Secretary, stated that citizens now live in fear and can no longer freely pursue various livelihoods, across the country, due to the security situation.
The statement reads in part, “With the goings-on in the country, we had expected them to meet before now but it is a good thing that they have met. It is a welcomed development. This would not only foster cooperation among the governors and people of the southern states but also strengthen the nation’s democracy.”
PANDEF stated that it had repeatedly averred that open grazing is outdated, archaic and should not be allowed to continue in a society like Nigeria.
The statement added, “The days of open grazing are over and the sooner those who are in that business realize it, the better for all of us.The governors also accentuated the issue of skewed appointments into federal government agencies, include security agencies.
The organization said that it would be recalled its National leader, Chief Edwin Clark, and 15 other prominent Nigerians were in Court with the President Muhammadu Buhari over serial breaches of the federal character in appointments by this administration.
“It is therefore pleasing and reassuring that the governors discussed these issues at their meeting and made those far-reaching resolutions. The positions they have taken are in tandem with the thoughts and expectations of the people of Southern Nigeria,” the statement reads.
Commending the governors, PANDEF stated “We congratulate them. We are pleased with what they have done; our hope and desire are that this meeting would be regular as we see the 19 Nothern governors meet, from time to time, and when necessary.”
