The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has described the response of the Presidency to the threat by a militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, as shallow and insincere.
TrackNews Online earlier reported that the militant group had on Saturday threatened to resume attack on oil installation with a view to crumbling the nation’s economy.
Replying to the group, the Presidency said the threat from the Avengers was unnecessary because President Muhammadu Buhari had met with Niger Delta Leaders and the Ijaw National Congress at the Presidential Villa, where germane issues concerning the Niger Delta were discussed.
But in an interview on Monday, PANDEF’s spokesman, Ken Robinson, asked the President to stop taking the people of the Niger Delta for granted.
Robinson added that the response from the Presidency shows that Buhari and his government were insincere and unserious with issues concerning the region.
He said, “Clearly, the response of the Presidency shows that this Presidency is not serious; it is not sincere and it is taking the people of the Niger Delta for granted. So, we cannot advise the Federal Government on this because they (FG) have no excuse and they know what to do, but they are afraid to do it.
“Remember PANDEF led a delegation to visit Mr President on November 1, 2016, and we presented what became the 16-point agenda for the holistic development of the Niger Delta to Mr. President.
“As we speak today, you are aware that only one and half of those 16 items have been given attention; the Maritime University in Delta State and the Ogoni clean-up. Apart from that, the Federal Government has done nothing.
“The pronouncements of the Vice-President in 2017, including the directive that oil firms should relocate their headquarters to Niger Delta, have not been implemented.”
