BREAKING :DO NOT DECLARE NIGER DELTA REPUBLIC OCTOBER 1 -EDWIN CLARK BEGS MILLITANTS

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The National Leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, on Friday urged militants not to resume bombing of oil installations and declare a Republic of Niger Delta on October 1. In an interview with Saturday Vanguard, Clark said PANDEF was now satisfied that the Federal Government meant well for the region and also disposed to dialogue with the regional body. He appealed to the militants, especially the groups that claimed to have withdrawn their mandate from PANDEF to simmer down, adding: “Rome was not built in day; the Acting President was honest, straightforward and forthright in his discussion with us and I do not see the need for war.” Clark warned that any militant group that restarts hostilities in the region was on its own and does have the backing of the Niger Delta people. He also denied that the group gave the FG a November 1 ultimatum, explaining that it only urged it to set up a dialogue team to discuss with PANDEF, or the body would pull out of further meetings with it.