PANDEF Chair Urges Unity Among Niger Deltans, Inaugurates Lagos Chapter

The National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Development Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows Igali, has called on Niger Deltans to unite and speak with one voice in order to secure meaningful and purposeful development for the oil-rich region.

Igali made the appeal during an interactive meeting in Lagos, where he inaugurated the Lagos State chapter of PANDEF and its executive committee. The event brought together Niger Deltans resident in the state.

In a press release issued on Thursday, September 11, 2025, by PANDEF’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Dr. Obiuwevbi Ominimini, Igali lamented the long history of marginalisation suffered by the Niger Delta. He recalled how regional leaders had to protest in London before Nigeria’s independence a struggle that led to the establishment of the Willink’s Commission.

“PANDEF belongs to all Niger Deltans. We in the national executive are only working for the common good of our people,” Igali said.

The PANDEF Chairman underscored the need for unity across ethnic lines, stressing that continued fragmentation weakened the region’s bargaining power.

“We cannot tell our children that in this democratic era, we were unable to speak against our marginalisation. We must unite instead of speaking separately as Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Ndokwa, Ibibio, Anang, Oron, Efik, Ijagham, Edo, Isoko, and others,” he said.

He highlighted disparities in federal representation, noting that Bayelsa State has only eight local government areas and five House of Representatives seats, compared to Kano State’s 44 LGAs and over 24 federal constituencies.

Igali urged Niger Deltans to rekindle the resilience that produced the Midwest State, acknowledging the leadership of PANDEF founder, Chief Edwin Clark, and the endorsement of eminent monarchs such as the Oba of Benin, Olu of Warri, and Obong of Calabar at PANDEF’s formation in 2016.

The PANDEF Chair disclosed that the body plans to host a Niger Delta cultural festival in Lagos and establish a South-South Investment Fund to promote investment in both oil and non-oil sectors.

He also reminded attendees that PANDEF had presented a 16-point demand to former President Muhammadu Buhari, expressing optimism that the Lagos chapter, led by Prof. Hope Eghagha, would amplify the region’s voice nationally and globally.

Speaking on behalf of Lagos-based Niger Deltans, Prof. Eghagha lamented the abandonment of seaports, the East-West Road, and the Ogidigben EPZ Gas Project. He condemned the burning of Opuoma community in Delta by the military and the continued detention of its residents without trial.

The gathering also called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the political crisis in Rivers State and ensure the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, describing his removal as unconstitutional.

The newly inaugurated Lagos interim executive includes:

. Prof. Hope Eghagha (Delta State) – Chairman
. Chief Patrick Iyang (Cross River State) – Deputy Chairman
. Prince Emmanuel Anderson Ogan (Rivers State) – Secretary
. Sylvester Ebhodaghe (Edo State)– Publicity Secretary
. Iwekumo Idris (Bayelsa State) Woman Leader

Ambassador Igali inaugurated the officials on behalf of PANDEF’s Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee.