PAN Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called on the Niger Delta region of the country to begin a search for an alternative to oil as an economic backbone to ensure peace and progress in the region.
The call was made in Port Harcourt on Tuesday BY PANDEF’s National President, Senator Emmanuel Essien, during the official opening of its Rivers State office and the inauguration of its local government executive committees.
Essien said the move is essential as he advised the people to adopt a main economic base to replace oil, which he said was fast losing economic attraction.
“In the next few years, the world may not be driven by oil coming from the Niger Delta region. It may become obsolete in a few years because electric engines are being developed to replace combustible engines.
“Even for aeroplanes, they are developing electric engines to fly planes, which means that in the next few years, they may not need fuel. So, what will the Niger Delta become in the next few years? We have to look beyond the oil in the region. We have to think beyond the oil.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of PANDEF, Rivers State and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah (rtd), said the group’s activities, programmes, and policies were founded primarily on peace, unity and development of the Niger Delta region.
According to him, “Suffice it to say that the role of PANDEF, its ideals and objectives are all premised, primarily, on the unity, peace and development of the Niger Delta region.
“I believe we all chose to be here because of our shared passion for the region, the people and our desire to be part of efforts to change the damning directives.
“In the coming months, we will do our best to build on the events of today and endeavour to entrench PANDEF at the grassroots with the message of unity, peace and development.”
