The Niger Delta People’s Congress has faulted the November 1 ultimatum given by the Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Forum to the Federal Government.

The group’s Convener, Chief Mike Loyibo, stated this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja.

PANDEF on Monday threatened that it would withdraw from the peace negotiation with the government if the forum’s demands were not met before November 1.

Loyibo, however said the threat was ‘selfish and unpatriotic’.

He said, “It is highly selfish and unpatriotic for the Chief E. K. Clark-led PANDEF to give the Federal Government an ultimatum considering the right steps taken so far by the government towards a permanent solution to the age-long crisis that had bedeviled the Niger Delta region.

[Read Also: N’Delta leaders give FG ultimatum to implement 16-point demand]

“We are aware that the government constituted a high-powered committee chaired by the Acting President who has demonstrated so much passion and commitment towards the region.

“PANDEF is just one of the many groups in the region and its decision cannot be
binding on everybody.

“There is no need for the Federal Government to negotiate with any group, rather, the Presidency should go back to the people in the host communities just the same way that the Acting President went round initially to seek their buy-in. After all, it was not PANDEF that secured peace in the region.

“They have consulted widely and a road map has already been fashioned out. The Federal Government should not allow any group to slow her down rather, immediate action should be taken to tackle already identified issues.”

Azeez