The National Chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum, Godknows Igali, has charged Niger Deltans to unite and speak with one voice to achieve purposeful development in the region.

In a statement signed by PANDEF National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Obiuwevbi Ominimini, the chairman disclosed plans to organise a Niger Delta cultural festival in Lagos, where the body will showcase the unity of the people.

Igali said: “Our oil was used to develop Lagos and Abuja to our detriment. No land is better than Niger Delta for agriculture.

“We have decided to raise funds for investment to be called South South Investment Fund, where some of our people can invest in the oil and non-oil sectors. We must save to invest,” he added.

Igali lamented  that the marginalisation of the Niger Delta people started  before independence, which according  to him, led to its leaders protesting in London; resulting in the delay of Nigeria’s independence and the setting up of the Willink’s Commission.

Igali, who spoke during the inauguration of the Lagos chapter of PANDEF, said: “PANDEF belongs to all Niger Deltans and not for National Excos. We are only working for all Niger Deltans.

“We can tell our children that at a time, some soldiers siezed power and gave 44 local councils and over 24 House of Reps seats to Kano State but gave only eight local councils and five House of Reps seats to Bayelsa State and that we couldn’t talk because of the fear of guns. But that we can’t tell our children that in a democratic era such as this, we couldn’t speak to the powers that be over our plights and the marginalisation of the region. It is on this basis that we must have unity and speak with one voice instead of speaking separately as Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Ndokwa, Ibibio Anang, Oron, Efik, Ijagham, Edo, Ishan or Isoko, Ogini.”

Responding on behalf of the Lagos-based Niger Deltans, Prof. Hope Egha regretted negligence of the seaports in Niger Delta and the East West Road.

While appreciating the efforts of the PANDEF National Exco, he blamed the abandonment of the Ogidigben EPZ gas project by the Federal Government on negligence.