ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, YENAGOA
A group, Niger Delta Renaissance for Development, has applauded the Pan Niger Delta Forum for the appointment of a former Bayelsa council chairman, Hon. Bello Bina, as the National Youth Leader of the socio-cultural body.
The group said the appointment of Bina, who is also the Coordinator of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria in the Niger Delta, would unite the youths of the region and reduce restiveness among them.
The National Coordinator of NDRD, Mr Preye Kalaite, described Bina’s appointment as timely and commendable considering his contributions to issues of youths’ development and empowerment in Bayelsa and the region.
He said: “The National Youth leadership with Hon. Bello Bina, who is also the Coordinator of the IPMAN in the region will go a long way to ensure a wider participation of youths on issue of regional development and bridge the gap between the elders and the youth.
“We also call on the new leadership of PANDEF to focus on the issues of regional development, the nine-point agenda presented to the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) by the governors of the region, the problems in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
“We congratulate the elders and leaders of the PANDEF for rejigging their efforts to assist the stakeholders of the region to suggest new ways to tackle rising insecurity, under-development in Nigeria and the region. “
The PANDEF, a body of traditional rulers, leaders and stakeholders of the region, had recently announced the election of a new executive, promising to work closely with the governors of the South-South and community leaders to establish appropriate security architecture to safeguard the people of the region within lawful means.
The forum expressed concern over the situation of insecurity and breakdown of law and order in several parts of the country, and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to redouble efforts to curb the expanding activities of Boko Haram, the audacious attacks by bandits and the rampaging activities of Fulani herdsmen.