Prominent Niger Delta activist and elder statesman, Ann-Kio Briggs has criticized President Bola Tinubu for keeping members of the Pan Niger Delta Forum waiting for nearly two hours without an apology during a recent meeting.
Briggs made this revelation during an interview on News Central TV, expressing disappointment over the treatment meted out to respected leaders from the region.
“As you quite rightly mentioned about PANDEF, I was in the meeting with PANDEF with the president and Mr. President kept us waiting for nearly two hours. I have never heard about a situation like that,” Briggs stated.
She emphasized that the delegation included former governors of Rivers State, elder statesmen and traditional rulers all of whom deserved a certain level of respect from the presidency.
“He never apologized for keeping former governors of Rivers State, elder statesmen, traditional rulers waiting. I don’t think that the Rivers people deserve the disrespect from the FCT Minister,” she added.
The meeting which was expected to address critical issues affecting the Niger Delta region was reportedly marred by the president’s delayed arrival raising concerns among stakeholders about the government’s commitment to the region.
PANDEF, a key voice for the Niger Delta has been advocating for development, environmental justice and a fair share of the region’s oil wealth.
However, Briggs’ remarks suggest growing frustration over the federal government’s approach to engaging with the region’s leadership.
There has been no official response from the presidency regarding the delay or the concerns raised by PANDEF members.