The leadership of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has urged the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to enthrone true Federalism in Nigeria after his election as president in 2023.
The influential Niger Delta group made the request during a meeting in Yenagoa, when Obi visited Bayelsa State for his presidential campaign.
The former governor of Anambra State had also been endorsed by the pan-Yoruba social political group, Afenifere, and its Igbo counterpart, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, for the presidency next year.
In a statement jointly signed by PANDEF National Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Godknows Igali, the group charged Obi to be committed to a true Federal structure as Nigeria’s president.
The statement read: “When you win, you have to protect our interest because the Niger Delta is the region that produces over 80 percent of the revenue for the country, and we cannot be taken for granted.
“We are asking you to consider structural adjustment/devolution of power with more resources to the sub-nationals. This will help the regions to develop at their own pace and will help the country to grow.
“We also want you to look at the restructuring of NDDC, which was established to help the Niger Delta region and ensure that the policies implemented including the regional master plan which was made but has not been implemented. Also, projects like railway within the South-south, referral hospitals, agricultural value chain plants, and the East-West road which for over 20 years has not been completed.
“The immediate reactivation of all sea ports in the South-South and creation of new ports to encourage the movement of goods and services from the South-South through the South-east and North-central to the North-east.
“This will also boost economic and employment opportunities for our young people. We are demanding the relocation of the Headquarters of International Oil Companies (IOCs) to their areas of operation in the Niger Delta.”