PANDEF Chair, Nkanga says Obaseki’s Re-election will Galvanize and Stimulate Development in Niger Delta

The National Chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Air Commodore Idogesit Nkanga (rtd.), has stated that with all the states in the Niger Delta region belonging` to the same political block, such would spur them to work together by formulating a common agenda to stimulate development of the zone.

He made this declaration while fielding questions from newsmen yesterday Monday in Uyo on the victory of Godwin Obaseki who was re-elected as governor of Edo State on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The former military administrator of Akwa Ibom stressed that the outcome signifies a better future for the geo-political region as the governors would now easily congregate and brainstorm on issues of common interest to the people of the region.

He recalled the formation of the BRACED Commission by the South South Governors which brought hope to the people of the Niger Delta region untill according to him,” a virus came to destroy that after the zone lost Edo state to the All Progressives Congress”.

His words, “The re-election of Godwin Obaseki as governor of Edo State for us is good news. Now we have the six governors of the South South within the same political` umbrella, PDP because whatever they do invariably will touch on politics for the people, they will be free to speak knowing that their political thinking will be the same”.

And continuing he said, “So PANDEF is happy because now they will all be speaking with one voice, looking at the development of the Niger Delta from one political platform. And whatever they think they could do to improve the lives of the people they will be thinking alike. We believe that with this development in Edo state things should start coming up again for the Niger Delta. I am happy, PANDEF is happy and I believe everybody should be happy that the election was done smoothly, and that the people’s votes counted”.

“What happened in Edo State is victory, good news for our democracy. That is the way it should be. And I think the god fatherism in Edo is now dead. God fatherism only works when people don’t really understand what the politics is about, or maybe they don’t believe they have the capacity to get whatever is theirs”

Nkanga said it was unfortunate that the same Adams Oshiomole who had preached against god fatherism in Edo State during the days of Tony Anenih later turned around to become a god himself.

He stressed that Edo people must have been very upset that after kicking against god fatherism in politics when he was a governor, “now he wants to become not just a godfather, but a god. And it is good the people rejected it”