The National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Godknows Igali, Thursday, clarified the role of the group.
Igali said that PANDEF’s mandate and vision is to champion environmental justice for a region long burdened by oil exploration, ecological degradation and advocate for fair resource allocation.
PANDEF national leader spoke at the inauguration of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the Forum.
In his speech, Igali said: “PANDEF is not merely a forum of protest-it is a platform of solutions, a partner in building a Nigeria that is inclusive, equitable, and prosperous.
Speaking of the historical emergence of PANDEF, Igali said that in the Fourth Republic, two distinct bodies emerged: the first was the South-South Constitutive Assembly.
“The second was the South-South People’s Congress, largely comprising elder statesmen such as Chief Dappa Biriye and Chief Edwin Clark.
“Both bodies were vibrant from the year 2000 onward, but their rivalry generated some unhealthy competition.
“The need to consolidate became evident, and eventually, in 2004, the two groups merged to form the South-South People’s Assembly (SSPA).
“With the former Edo State Governor, Chief Odigie Oyegun as Chairman and Chief Edwin Clark as Leader who passed earlier in 2025.
“This platform served as the authoritative voice of the South-South for over a decade.
“However, the SSPA began experiencing strains, partly due to partisan political tensions and the passing of some founding figures.
“The fallout from the 2015 elections weakened the body further,” he said.
He said: “Subsequent meetings resolved to revive the South-South People’s Assembly under a new identity.
“After deliberation, the name Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) was proposed by the late Mr. Tony Uranta”.
Igali noted that “We have always been one people. We remain one today, and we shall continue to be one.
“Attempts to divide us have failed before and will continue to fail. Today, as we inaugurate the FCT chapter of PANDEF, we do so in honour of our founding fathers.
“Many of whom are no longer with us and have passed the baton to this generation. The flag must not falter. PANDEF is here to stay, and its presence in the FCT is now firmly established.
“Let us therefore unite, not only as Niger Deltans but as Nigerians committed to justice and progress.
*Let us show that PANDEF is a force for national cohesion, a voice of reason, and a beacon of hope”.
Speaking on the inauguration of the FCT chapter of PANDEF, Igali said it gives approval, recognition, and full enablement “to our people here in the FCT to formally herald the birth of PANDEF.
“Although a liaison office already exists in Abuja, the importance of today’s ceremony lies in establishing a chapter that allows our citizens resident in the FCT to have their own voice and relate with one another in an organised, structured manner”.
In his speech, the pioneer, PANDEF, FCT Chairman, Mr Bello Premier thanked the
National Chairman of PANDEF for bringing out this idea of expanding the scope of PANDEF to Abuja and Lagos.
“As a matter of fact, for the past five months, I’ve been working tirelessly to see this day.
“We have nine states that make up the Niger Delta. The FCT chapter of PANDEF is a Nigeria project.
“We will work with the Federal Government to see that the dividend of the democracy get to the last man,” Premier said.
Also speaking, BOT Chairman of PANDEF, Alfred Diette Spiff, urged President Bola Tinubu to give the Niger Delta a boost to ensure the area’s development.
“This is so that they can build up the nature there. It’s a very interesting area. It’s a rich area and with the blue economy, more could be harnessed,” he said.
