A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress Party, Bayelsa State, and staunch supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Famous Daunimigha, has said that restructuring of Nigeria will strengthen and stabilise the economy of the country.
Daunemigha, who is also the Youth Coordinator, Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum, said restructuring was unavoidable, insisting that it would make everybody strong and look inwards their state to work on their God-given resources to better the lives of their people.
The APC leader, who backed the Saturday, March 24, 2018 restructuring rally organised by PANDEF in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, said the congregation was for the Niger Delta people irrespective of party affiliation, tribe and creed.
He carpeted a former militant leader, Michael Johnny, for allegedly labelling the rally as a gathering of members of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The PANDEF youth coordinator described as shameful, mischievous and a calculated attempt to rubbish the good intentions of Niger Delta leaders, the assertion that the restructuring rally was only for select PDP members.
Debunking ex-militant’s statement, Daunemigha said it was misleading for Johny to label the historical rally as a gathering of PDP, even though he (Johnny) is aware that he (Daunemigha) is a strong APC member.
Confirming that the Youth Wing of PANDEF had concluded arrangement to have another rally, Daunemigha said, “My attention has been drawn to a report by Chief Michael Johnny wrongly asserting that the historical rally of PANDEF on restructuring held on March 24, 2018 in Bayelsa State was a rally for select elders of the PDP.
“First, it is very important to enlighten Nigerians and the APC that I am a proud member of APC and a staunch supporter of President Buhari since the days of All Nigeria Peoples Party and Congress for Progressive Change.
“That we were instrumental to securing the ceasefire in Niger Delta in the wake of resumed hostilities in the region which we are all enjoying in our dear country, Nigeria.
“And for the records, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, played a major role in putting a team of veterans from the Niger Delta and handed them to Kachikwu which led to the formation of PANDEF today.
“PANDEF is a congregation of all Niger Delta people, irrespective of political party and I am the Youth Coordinator and an APC member from Bayelsa State, just like so many others from other political affiliations.
“Therefore, it is very unguided and misplaced for Chief Michael Johnny to describe this historical rally as PDP elders rally on restructuring.”
He educated the ex-militant that restructuring is a key item in APC’s manifesto, saying that he was in full support of it (restructuring).
He, therefore, strongly advised the ex-militant to retract “his unguided and abusive statement.”
Daunemigha further said, “Between now and the next two months, we are going to have a meeting of all the presidents of youth bodies of all ethnic organisations with their secretaries and their women leaders.
“Then, they will now go back and mobilise our people for a grand youth rally in support of restructuring.”