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PANDEF CONGRATULATES GOVERNORS DIRI AND OTU ON THEIR EMERGENCE AS SOUTH SOUTH GOVERNORS FORUM LEADERS

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has congratulated Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State and Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State on their emergence as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the South South Governors Forum. In a statement, PANDEF expressed its joy and confidence in the leadership qualities of the duo, saying their emergence is a clear demonstration of the trust reposed in them by their colleagues. PANDEF Spokesman, Olorogun (Sir) Obiuwevbi Ominimini Ph.D, stated that the South South region is in dire need of regional collaboration on various aspects of development, including regional security architecture, transportation mechanisms, and regional marine transportation. He noted that the emergence of Governors Diri and Otu as leaders of the forum will bring succour to the aspirations of the people of the devastated Niger Delta Region. “The emergence of this present leadership of the South South Governors forum is completely believed to be competent enough as tested political Leaders who have both Legislative and Executive experiences,” Olorogun (Sir) Obiuwevbi Ominimini Ph.D said. PANDEF believes that the new leadership will make a significant difference, given their practical expertise in governance. Ominimini noted that the South South Governors forum is responsible for the creation of the BRACED commission, but it has not been properly funded. He expressed hope that the new leadership will address this issue and fast-track the development of the region. “PANDEF therefore promises to work very closely with this new leadership of the South South Governors forum in order to fast track speedy development of the Region,” Ominimini said.

GOV DIRI URGES PANDEF TO FOCUS ON REGION’S DEVELOPMENT ISSUES

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has urged the leadership of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) to focus on issues that border on the region’s development. The Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, stated in a press release that Senator Diri gave the admonition on Wednesday when a delegation of PANDEF led by its new chairman, Amb. Godknows Igali, paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa. Diri expressed his administration’s commitment to collaborate with the forum to address issues of development bedevilling the Niger Delta region. He stressed that PANDEF needed the collaboration of governors of the region as well as interventionist agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the proposed South South Development Commission in order for it to succeed. “PANDEF ought to play a key advocacy role in supporting the South-South Governors Forum,” Diri said. He also stated that he had informed his counterparts in the South-South on the need to collaborate to establish a power project for the zone in order to attract investments. On his administration’s part, Diri highlighted efforts aimed at facilitating the procurement of an independent power plant to enhance socio-economic activities. He noted that the ongoing central senatorial road leading to Oporoma, headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, would be completed and inaugurated before the end of this year. In his remarks, Chairman of PANDEF, Amb. Godknows Igali, affirmed the forum’s support to the South-South Governors Forum to help reposition the body to bring about development and address issues such as fiscal federalism. Alabrah stated that Amb. Igali congratulated Diri on his emergence as chairman of the South-South Governors Forum.

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