“He was a key figure and brought on board his robust intellectual forte in the various socio-cultural and socio-political bodies of the Niger Delta, especially PANDEF at the time of its formation and till his demise.”
The issue of environmental remediation “needs to be placed on the front burner,” pointing to what it described as approximately 70 years of oil pollution and gas flaring affecting communities in the region.
Chief Horsfall was the founding Chairman of the Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), the agency established to address developmental challenges in oil-producing communities and which later gave way to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“Our people are not happy. Let nobody be deceived. Our people are not happy. They are watching. They are looking. The suffering is too much, and it is something that needs to be given urgent attention—the roads in the South-South of this country.”
“PANDEF is engaging with leaders of various political parties on issues pertaining to the Niger Delta and the country at large. We had a very fruitful discussion, and we appreciate the fact that the NDC has become a leading national movement and perhaps the party of choice for many Nigerians today.
The National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Amb. (Dr.) Godknows Boladei Igali, hosted a delegation of eminent statesmen who travelled from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos, and other parts of the federation to honour the late Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, on Friday. Following the funeral rites…
“There is no doubt that Chief Alamieyeseigha deserves and earned the highest level of accolade and honour. While he lived with us and all through the course of his public life, he was outstanding and accomplished. He was selfless and, at all times, placed the interests of the collective above his own personal interests.”
A key highlight of PANDEF’s message was the renewed call for urgent action on the longstanding infrastructural decay in the Niger Delta—the region that sustains the national economy. The forum emphasized that critical projects such as the East-West Road, the Benin–Auchi Road, the Benin–Warri Road, and the rehabilitation of major southern ports in Port Harcourt, Calabar, Onne, and Warri can no longer be ignored if Nigeria intends to unlock its full economic potential.
This milestone anniversary offers us yet another opportunity to reflect on the journey of our nationhood. In that respect, we urge governments at all levels to show greater determination and respect for rule of law in consolidating democracy, pursuing meaningful economic reforms, and confronting the challenges of insecurity, poverty, hunger and youth unemployment that continue to weigh heavily on our people.
