President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting with leaders of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja. The meeting, which began at 4:15 pm local time on Tuesday, marks another significant step in the ongoing dialogue between the President and Niger Delta leaders.
The session was convened by the late elder statesman, Edwin Clark, who passed away in February. PANDEF serves as the voice of the traditional rulers, leaders, and stakeholders from the coastal states of the Niger Delta. In a moment of respect, the President requested a minute’s silence to honour Clark’s memory.
This gathering is part of a series of meetings that President Tinubu has held with various Niger Delta leaders. On January 21, 2025, he met with key stakeholders from Rivers State, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, former Governor Nyesom Wike, and leaders from Ogoni communities. The discussions during that meeting focused on the Ogoni cleanup project and addressing environmental and developmental challenges in the region.
During these engagements, President Tinubu has emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration to heal past wounds and foster sustainable progress, remarking, “We can’t heal past wounds if we continue to be angry.”
Notable figures attending the meeting include Senator Seriake Dickson, Professor Mike Ozakhome, former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke, former Rivers Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru, and former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Timi Alaibe. Other attendees include Jaja of Opobo, Professor Dandeson Jaja; Senator Ita Enang; Senator Bassey Henshaw; Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, former acting MD of the NDDC; Uche Secondus; Senator Andrew Uchendu; and several other key figures from the Niger Delta region.
