Ministers of Ijaw origin in President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet on Sunday shunned a reconciliatory meeting convened in Lagos by the leaders of their ethnic nationality over the reelection bid of their boss in 2015.

The meeting, held at Eko Hotel and Suites, was initiated by a group of Ijaw elders led by the South-South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark; former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and former Minister of Aviation, Chief Alabo Graham-Douglas, to unite notable Ijaw people, apparently to support the second term bid of President Jonathan.

It was gathered yesterday that cabinet members, including the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe; his counterparts in Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke and Housing and Urban Development Ms. Ama Pepple, who were duly invited by the Ijaw elders, shunned the forum.

Findings by National Mirror also revealed that the Special Adviser to the President on Millennium Development Goals, Dr. Precious Kalamba Gbeneol, also did not honour the invitation to the meeting. Investigation by National Mirror yesterday showed that only the Presidential Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku; Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Mr. Ziakede Akpobolokemi and Special Adviser to the President on Research and Documentation, Mr. Oronto Douglas, appeared at the meeting.

Our correspondent learnt that only Alison-Madueke excused herself from the meeting, saying that her role in the visit of the Indonesian President, Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, prevented her intention to honour the invitation. However, her colleagues did not offer any reason for their failure to attend the strategic meeting.

Similarly, some notable ex-militant commanders in the Niger Delta, including Chief Ateke Tom, Mr. Ebikabowei Victor Ben, alias Boyloaf and Chief Government Ekpemukpolo, alias Tompolo, did not attend the meeting. Reliable sources at the meeting told our correspondent yesterday that the absence of the top government officials frustrated the vision and mission envisaged for the forum. It was gathered that the meeting was eventually adjourned till a later date to enable all stakeholders, including the key government functionaries to be part of the initiative.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/2015-orubebe-alison-madueke-others-absent-at-ijaw-peace-talks/