The Pan Niger Delta Forum, (PANDEF), has raised issues over the marginalization of Niger Delta indigenes and their relegation to peripheral standings, in both the management and operations of the industry of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd, where all top strategic management positions are occupied by persons from the north.
This was contained in a communique issued at an extraordinary meeting of the Leaders of Niger Delta Region under the auspices of PANDEF held in Abuja on Wednesday
The communique, which was jointly signed by the National Leader, and Chief Dr. E. K. Clark and National Chairman
Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien cited the recent humongous Pipeline Maintenance Contracts awarded by NNPC Ltd to the exclusion of qualified firms from the Niger Delta as a typical example.
The communique decried the fact that the Niger Delta region remains largely under-represented in the appointments made so far by President Bola Tinubu as it urged him to reverse the trend.
It equally called on him to guarantee the appointment of someone from any of the six South-South States as the next Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd as anything short of that would be a great disservice to the Niger Delta people.
The meeting restated its faith in a stable, united, and peaceful Nigeria, situated on the fundamental principles of equity, fairness, and justice through a holistic restructuring of the country.
It however acknowledged some of the positive steps that have been taken by the Tinubu administration, but insisted that a lot more needed to be done, urgently, to ease the harsh economic burdens on ordinary citizens of the country
It commended the president on the appointment of some sons and daughters of the Niger Delta to statutory positions
The meeting mplored the political class of the South-South Geopolitical Zone, including the Governors, Members of the National Assembly, Ministers, and Heads of MDAs, to work together, irrespective of their political disparities, in the overall interest of the Region.