Abuja — The Federal Government yesterday made good its earlier promise to constitute a high powered committee that would replace the abandoned Professor Ibrahim Gambari led Steering Committee for the defunct Niger -Delta Summit, with the setting up of a 40 man committee.

President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has approved the list of nominees to serve on the technical committee to review and distil all previous reports on the Niger Delta, and come up with appropriate recommendations on the way forward for the region.

A former Minister of Finance, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, who was earlier nominated from Abia State to serve in the Gambari Steering Committee may head the reformed and renamed committee.

Vice President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is to inaugurate the committee next Monday, September 8, 2007, at the Vice President's Conference Room.

The 40 man list comprises Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, Chief E. C. Adiele, Chief Tony Esu, Hon. Nduese Essien, Mrs. Grace Ekong, Prof. Peter King, Chief Anderson Eseimokumo, Prof. Lawrence Ekpebu Prof. Austin Ikein, Youpele Banigo, Chief Anthony Ani (MON), Ukandi Gabriel Ogar Col. Edor Obi (rtd.), Barr. Nkoyo Toyo, Prof. Omofume Onoge, Prof. B. I. C. Ijeoma Chief Isaac Jemide, Dr. Abel Dafioghor,

Also on the list are Barr. Benard Jamaho, Mr. Sam Amuka Pemu, Senator Stella Omu, Ben Bouegha, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, Admiral Peter Ebhalemen Barr. Charles Edosomhan (SAN), Prof. E. M. Umezurike, Dr. Godswill Ihetu, Barr. Cyril Anyanwu,

Others are Dr. Sam Amadi, Hon. D. I. Kekemeke, Chief Olusola Oke, Col. Wole Ohunayo (rtd.), Engr. Tonye Princewill, Magnus Njei Abe, Chibuzor Ugowoha, Mr. Ledum Mitee, Mr. Tony Uranta, Anyakwe Nsirimovu, Chief Timi Alaibe, Atei Beredugo

It would be recalled that June 6, this years, the Federal Government through a statement issues by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Mr Imma Niboro, the Vice President was quoted as saying "that a committee is to be set up to review all previous reports on the Niger Delta with a view to analyzing and updating their recommendations which will form part of the talks on the crisis in the region".

He also stated that the proposed talks may not be referred to as a "summit." Instead it should be described as a dialogue of stakeholders on finding the way forward

According to the statement, Jonathan assured that the Federal Government is genuinely committed to ensuring a lasting solution to the issues agitating the Niger Delta. These issues when resolved will bring the much expected development to the region and lay a solid foundation for the sustenance of such development even after the tenure of the present administration.

"According to Dr. Jonathan, the issues agitating the region date back to the period before Nigeria 's Independence and cannot be solved overnight. He therefore, implored all stakeholders to collectively work towards the achievement of peace, stability and development of the region".

He asked the people of the region to have faith in the present administration's plans while condemning the present situation which makes it difficult for contractors working on infrastructural projects in the region to access work sites and carry out their tasks.

About a month later, precisely July 10, governors of the Niger Delta states rose from a crucial meeting with Vice President Goodluck Jonathan in his office on a possible replacement for the rejected diplomat Professor Ibrahim Gambari with a resolve to consult with leaders from the area on the matter.

The meeting which took place in the office of the vice president was attended by Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta state, Lyel Imoke of Cross River and Theodore Orji of Abia state while other states were represented by the respective Deputy Governors. It is believed that some names may have been presented to the governor by the presidency for them to pick from but the governors viewing the issue as very sensitive may have requested to be given some time to enable them consult with leaders on the replacement and other aspects of proposed summit before a final choice.

The meeting was staged at the instance of the outright rejection of the earlier named chairman of the summit, Professor Ibrahim Gambari by government. However, after the controversy, the internationally respected diplomat formerly resigned in a letter to the vice president where he attributed the opposition to his candidacy to an 'orchestrated campaign' by some people to tarnish his image.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who did not confirmed Gambari's resignation when he briefed state house correspondents after the meeting was not ready to give detailed account of transactions at the meeting but stated that the issue of the chairmanship of the proposed meeting should not be made to overshadow the actual meeting.

Dr Uduaghan, a medical doctor by training, hinted that Gambari's rejection and his subsequent resignation cannot scuttle the proposed summit since the issues are beyond who heads the summit.

"What I know is that all of us in the Niger Delta agree that continuous talking should occur. The issue of the chairman will not scuttle the summit" he said, pointing out that "what we agreed to do at today's meeting is to go back as governors, hold further consultation with elders and leaders and also bring them back to meet with the vice president next week"

Governor Uduaghan said yesterday's meeting was to review the earlier one convened by the Vice President which had in attendance governors, national assembly members youth leaders and elders from the region.

He said the rejection of Gambari by the people of the Niger Delta and other issues that have recently cropped up about the summit would be taken into consideration when a final decision on the matter is to be arrived at.

The meeting was staged at the instance of the government continued defense of the appointment of Gambari as contained in an official statement issued June 12, where the Presidency gave reasons for the appointment of the Under Secretary-General (Political Affairs) of the United Nations (UN), Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, stating that the aim "is to give the summit a global perspective".

The Presidency had therefore appealed to all stakeholders especially leaders of the region to continue to give support to the unfurling process of addressing all vexed issues; even as government make a solemn pledge that at the end of the day, there will be cause to cheer in the Niger Delta region.

The news of Professor Gambari's appointment which filtered into the air few days ago has continued to generate debate and controversy as cross section of stakeholders especially activists from the Niger-Delta region appeared not favorably disposed to the idea.

But in swift reaction, the Presidency argued that the ongoing debate does not hold water; insisting that "This debate may well be unnecessary, as is its variant which suggests that the Summit is itself uncalled for because there have been talks in the past which yielded little or no dividend".

The Presidency in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Mr Ima Niboro said that "the inclusion of Professor Gambari as Chairman of the Summit Steering Committee fulfils the need to give the Niger Delta issue a global perspective, even while keeping it strictly within the ambit of our internal affairs".

"The choice of Professor Gambari is also guided by his vast experience in international conflict resolution and multi sector dialogue. He is a well respected voice in global affairs, and the fact that he is on the staff of the United Nations is a plus for the summit for obvious reasons".

"The Niger Delta summit has the full backing of the President, Commander-in-Chief, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, and the present administration is fully committed to making the difference in the region once and for all. The Vice President, a prominent son of the Niger Delta, has been entrusted with the delivery of the process. He remains wholly committed to the resolution of the Niger Delta conundrum".

The composition and terms of reference of the committee, government said, speak volumes of the coming Summit . We must point out that the Summit would not be business as usual. It would provide a forum for the articulation of the Niger Delta challenge and deliver an item by item roadmap for the resolution of the crisis in the region.

According to the statement, the committee's terms of reference include: Review and agree on the strategy, structure, composition and phases of the stakeholder consultation process; Identify appropriate stakeholders and organisations that will participate in the summit; determine basis of representation; and create inclusive processes for the selection and authorisation of representatives and set criteria for accreditation of participants.

The committee would also liaise with appropriate national and regional leaders to provide briefing or assistance required to ensure resounding success; identify, discuss and monitor issues related to the consultation process and provide advice to government and key stakeholders on problems encountered during the consultations; establish benchmarks; and plan and mobilise resources needed for every phase of the consultation process, and report to the Vice President.

The decision to finally bury the summit was reached at a midnight meeting at the resident of the vise president, as it was shelved following uncompromising stand of the people of the area who are stoutly opposed to the idea as another round of jamboree.

A statement by government said that the proposed talks may not be referred to as a "summit." Instead it should be described as a dialogue of stakeholders on finding the way forward

President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua on assumption in office on May 29, 2007 had declared that as part of his government's efforts to tackle head-on the aging developmental neglect of the Niger-Delta by successive government as listed in the his seven-point agenda was to stage an all embracing summit.

This, according to him, would provide an apple opportunity for a proper but unmitigated articulation of all shed of opinion by stakeholders that could set the stage for a planned massive development of the region.

In fact, the proposed summit which has elicited widespread reaction from Nigerians with a larger percentage speaking against its necessity was billed to hold this month despite the mounting pressure to drop the idea.

However, after surviving the first controversy that greeted the appointment of a world-class Nigerian diplomat, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, which government bowed to by dropping him, government said that the summit was no longer capable of solving the myriads of the problems in the troubled region.

In its place, the Federal Government appeared to have conceded to the decision of the most governors and leaders of the region as well as other stakeholders opposed to the summit from the onset; and has decided to focus on a massive development plan for the troubled region which would be jointly agreed upon by all the stakeholders in the region.

This is the outcome of a meeting which took place Wednesday night at the residence of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan. Those in attendance include the Vice President Governors and Opinion Leaders of the Nine Oil Producing State .

The meeting was a continuation of the effort to seek a resolution to the crisis in the region.

Jonathan in an interview with journalists, after the meeting said the federal government was looking at holding discussions with all parties in the region with a view to arriving at a consensus on what and how the issue of the Niger Delta would be handled.

Jonathan said "when you use the world summit, it is a problematic word now because the people feel that when you say summit, that people will come from everywhere, different memos, sentiments, and they will say it is a jamboree. It is not really what they want. We will raise the issues, present it before the federal government and we will dialogue. Let's leave it at that point. We are not using the word summit."

He noted that the government was now interested in holding discussions on the issue so that all parties would have a say on the final decision to be taken on the development of the region.

"What we want is a discussion. Let us listen to the issues in the Niger Delta. Different people have different thinking about the Niger Delta. Some people think it is purely a security matter, some think it is purely an infrastructural matter, some think it is a political matter. Some think it is education."

"So, it is a complex thing. The committee will rise the fundamental issues what we believe are the challenges and present it to the Federal Government and make recommendations on the way forward. So when the document is presented to the President, we will look at it and then move from there," he said.

"So we have agreed that a committee would be set up to raise these issues and then the issues would be presented to the President. Then the journey starts from there," he said.

The problems of the Niger Delta the VP noted "are not issues you can solve overnight but the present administration is committed. The whole thing is growing like a cancer and it is going to consume everybody if nothing is done. That is why are holding these various meetings. We must get to a point and move ahead."

"We cannot solve it overnight. That is what everybody must learn. If it was possible to solve it overnight probably it would have been solved before some of us entered primary school," Jonathan said.

The decision to dump the initial arrangement of holding a summit, which was taken at a meeting with Jonathan, at the presidential villa, Abuja , along with governors of the Niger Delta and stakeholders from the region the VP said "have seen some mileage in terms of consensus on the way forward. That is the most important thing. We have agreed on how to move ahead with the federal government."

Jonathan disclosed that the government would continue to meet with the relevant groups in the region until a final decision was taken on the next line of action.

"I will continue to meet with different groups. I have a meeting with the governors after the National Economic Council meeting today. But basically what we have agreed today is that if there are problems in the Niger Delta, what are these problems, what caused these problems, what is the way forward, the challenges, the issues?"

Meanwhile, also yesterday, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has approved the appointment of Elder Braeyi Ekiye as a Special Adviser to the Vice President on Parastatals, Statutory Bodies and Inter-Governmental Affairs.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to Vice President, Mr Ima Niboro, said until his latest appointment, Elder Ekiye was the Principal Private Secretary to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan.

Born on July 31, 1949 in Adagbabiri, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Elder Ekiye began his career in 1969 as a freelance reporter/broadcaster with the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, now Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).

According to the statement, between 1979 and 1983, he was Speech Writer to late Chief Melford Okilo, Governor of old Rivers State .

A recipient of several honourary awards in journalism and PR practice, Elder Ekiye is the publisher of Environment watch newspaper, an indigenous tabloid in Bayelsa State .

He is a seasoned journalist, author, publisher, administrator, politician, public relations practitioner and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Calabar .