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| Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (retd.) |
The Chairman of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Idongesit Nkanga, has said that the Niger Delta region is clamouring for restructuring because it believes it is the only way its stolen wealth can be reclaimed.
Nkanga, a former military governor of Akwa Ibom State, stated this in an address he delivered at the inauguration of the state executive officers of the Host Communities of Nigeria in Uyo, on Saturday.
He said, “No matter the argument, no matter where we take it to, this country must be restructured.
“Our children cannot be second-class citizens in this country. Everyone must have equal opportunities. We will not stop until we get our right.
“They will tell you they have given us 13 per cent derivation, but when our founding fathers started, they forget that they started with 50 per cent.”
The PANDEF chairman said it was only through restructuring that the region would witness equality and justice and reclaim all its rights.
He lamented the lack of infrastructural development in the region and lack of an oil depot in Akwa Ibom, despite the fact that it was the largest producer of oil in the country.
The National Chairman of HOSTCOM, Prof Mike Emuh, in his welcome address, commended Governor Udom Emmanuel, for his efforts towards industrialising Akwa Ibom State and for ensuring that peace was sustained in the state.
Emuh explained that HOSTCOM was established to protect the interests of all the oil and gas producing areas in Nigeria.
He expressed satisfaction with the efforts by the present administration to recover oil blocks from those handling them currently and return them to the rightful owners.
“The oil blocks are property of the Niger Delta and should be returned to us.
“For the past 25 years, this is the only President that is listening to the oil-producing communities,” he said.
