Apparently acting on the pulse of the nation, Niger Delta agitators, who formerly issued a quit notice to northerners and Yorubas residing in the coastal region, have withdrawn their threat.

They suspended the quit notice after a meeting on Wednesday which lasted late into the night.

The agitators also declared support for the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) whose leadership they had earlier disowned to lead the region in the ongoing negotiations with the Federal Government.

They also put on hold planned attacks on the oil installations in the region while putting aside their intention to declare the republic of Niger Delta on October 1.

Their position was contained in a statement issued to the media after the meeting.

A coalition of agitators led by self-styled General John Duku said that the withdrawal of the quit notice, amongst other threats, was sequel to the intervention of PANDEF and Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Forum (NENYLF) led by its Acting National Chairman, Comrade Imoh Okoko.

They demanded the removal of the current Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru, from office.

Those who signed the statement included self-styled General John Duku (Niger Delta Watchdogs and Convener, Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators); self-styled General Ekpo Ekpo (Niger Delta Volunteers); self-styled General Osarolor Nedam

(Niger Delta Warriors); self-styled Major-Gen. Henry Okon Etete (Niger Delta Peoples Fighters); ‘Major-Gen.’ Asukwo Henshaw (Bakassi Freedom Fighters) and ‘Major-Gen.’ Ibinabo Horsfall (Niger Delta Movement for Justice).

Others were ‘Major-Gen.’ Duke Emmanson (Niger Delta Fighters Network); ‘Major-Gen.’ Inibeghe Adams (Niger Delta Freedom Mandate); ‘Major-Gen.’ Abiye Tariah (Niger Delta Development Network); ‘Major-Gen.’ Joshua Ebere (Renewed Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta); ‘Major-Gen.’ Jeremiah Anthony (Movement for Actualisation of Niger Delta Republic); ‘Major’ Francis Okoroafor (Niger Delta Freedom Redemption Army); ‘Colonel’ Nelson Okochi Walter, among others.

“After series of meetings yesterday between the high command of the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators led by ‘General’ John Duku and the leadership of the Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Forum (NENYLF) led by the Acting National Chairman, Comrade Imoh Okoko, coupled with the intervention of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).

“A coalition of Niger Delta Agitators, which comprises of over 250 groups with their leaders and representatives present at yesterday’s meeting officially withdraw our quit notice issued to the Northerners and Yorubas living in Niger Delta region, call off planned resumption of attacks on oil & gas installations across the Niger Delta region and beyond from September 10, 2017.

“We have also suspended the October 1, 2017 declaration of the Niger Delta Republic, and declare our support to Pan Niger Delta Forum, demand restructuring and removal of Group Managing Director of NNPC.

“We have also resolved to work with PANDEF and give them our maximum support and we urge the Federal Government to continue dialogue and implement the 16-point demand presented by PANDEF on behalf of the Niger Delta region.

“This comes after an extensive consultation across the Niger Delta region, which we discover only PANDEF has been working round the clock to resolve the Niger Delta issues and have the people of proven integrity; it is a clear fact that working with any rival group such as Pan Niger Delta Congress (PNDC) is not for the interest of the Niger Delta,” the agitators said in a communique.

The forum also resolved that the oil/gas companies should relocate their headquarters to Niger Delta region.

“We also resolved to put on hold the issue of the return of oil blocs owned by Northerners and Yorubas to Niger Delta people and demand that the NNPC should revisit their recent appointments, urge the Federal Government to replace the GMD of NNPC with the indigene of Niger Delta for the interest of peace, equity, fairness and justice,” Duku stated on behalf of the group. (Independent)

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