₦airaland Forum

lathrowinger:
Agulu fraud package, yes Daddy. Religion war master planner, 2face...

The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of obstructing peace efforts in Rivers State, despite President Bola Tinubu’s appeal for reconciliation.

The group also expressed deep disappointment over Wike’s public disparagement of PANDEF less than 24 hours after its delegation met with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, the Chairman of PANDEF’s Peace and Reconciliation Committee and former Governor of Cross River State, Obong Victor Attah, lamented that Wike’s refusal to engage with the committee had stalled mediation efforts in the political crisis rocking Rivers State.

“In a determination to prevent a full-blown crisis from developing, we constituted a team of eminent elders from across the South-South region,” Attah said.


“However, despite repeated attempts, we have been unable to secure a meeting with Chief Nyesom Wike, who has continued to rebuff our peace efforts.”


According to Attah, a PANDEF delegation met with President Tinubu on March 11, 2025, to seek his intervention, stressing the importance of Wike’s participation in any meaningful resolution.

“We informed Mr. President of the difficulties we have faced in securing the cooperation of his cabinet minister,” Attah explained.

“It is deeply troubling that Chief Wike has dismissed PANDEF as ‘the worst organization for anyone to rely on’ in a recent media chat, yet the President did not treat us with such disregard when he received us.”


Obong Attah reiterated that successful negotiations require the participation of all involved parties.

“It is not possible to clap with one hand. Negotiation can only take place if both parties in dispute agree to be accessible and available,” he said.

Given Wike’s continued resistance, PANDEF warned that it might be forced to withdraw from mediation efforts altogether.

“If this impasse persists, we will have no choice but to disband the Peace and Reconciliation Committee and step back from any further attempts to resolve this crisis,” Attah stated. “However, our fear is that this could have catastrophic consequences.”

Adding to the concerns, PANDEF National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, criticized Wike’s remarks, noting that the FCT Minister publicly discredited the sociocultural group just a day after their meeting with President Tinubu.


“Our delegation included prominent traditional rulers, former governors, senators, ministers, and retired senior military officers,” Igali stated.

"It is important to note that a visit to the Presidential Villa is strictly by invitation, underscoring the credibility of our mission.”


Igali highlighted the issues PANDEF raised with the President, including the South-South Development Commission Bill, infrastructure deficits, non-functional eastern ports, displaced persons from past crises, environmental cleanup of the Niger Delta, federalism, restructuring, and oil production concerns.

However, he lamented that the media failed to capture the full scope of these discussions.

“Regarding the Rivers State crisis, the President was pleased to see such distinguished individuals working toward peace,” Igali added.


“As a former member of the Nigerian Governors Forum and an experienced leader, he understood the gravity of the situation and encouraged us to continue our efforts.”

Igali also rebuked Wike for his comments on the late PANDEF leader, Chief Edwin Clark, stressing that the former minister deserved respect, especially as he had yet to be buried.

“Chief Nyesom Wike’s public remarks have been deeply disappointing. Less than 24 hours after our meeting with the President, he disparaged PANDEF, calling it the ‘worst organization for anyone to rely on’ and insinuating that our delegation pursued financial gains. This baseless attack on a body comprising revered traditional rulers, former governors, ministers, and senators is unacceptable,” Igali said.

He continued: “Even more appalling is his lack of respect for a recently deceased statesman who contributed immensely to the region’s development – the late Edwin Clark. While we remain committed to peace, we urge Chief Wike to extend due respect to these distinguished Nigerians.”

Igali also made a final appeal to Wike to reconsider his stance.


“We must remember that conflicts ultimately end at the negotiation table, and maintaining dignity in public service is crucial. We appeal to Chief Wike to actively participate in reconciliation efforts for the greater good of Rivers State,” he said.

Despite the obstacles, PANDEF reaffirmed its commitment to peace and expressed confidence that President Tinubu would uphold his commitment to addressing the concerns raised by the group.

Skooltynz:
Let's all be guided ,if you loose the game jejely go home and lick your wounds don't destabilize Nigeria, in 2027 it will be the drug baron and allies versus hungry Nigerians
and allies, no sane Nigerian wants him there. if the patriotic Nigerians wins we don't want to hear any cries of secession any miscreants that raises any treasonous flag will be thoroughly dealt with by the armed forces,and if you carry up arms or raise any militia against Nigeria in the name of breaking away I fear we will all unite just like 1967 to defend Nigerian unity at all cost. be warned!

Thiefobi1:
Igbo lies and propaganda.

Same lies spread from ibo generation to generation.

Tinubu turn swamp to eko Atlantic. At the Same time obi was building drunkard factory in Anambra.

Hatred and bigotry will not allowed u to c.

Thiefobi1:
Past Anambra tales of Pandora.

From incompetent to messiah.

zero8zero:
I knew the news was a fake too. The President specifically inaugurated a Presidential committee to work out the framework for the naira for crude swap. So anybody saying NNPCL is no longer supplying local refiners is only high on Abakaliki weed.

Burob:
The Federal Government in Abuja will carry out reforms in the individual states abi?

Yet every business or job is in a state in Nigeria? Quite obvious that his sambos don’t understand the Federal system we operate in Nigeria.

Under democrazy they are waiting for Abuja, instead of promoting the comparative advantages of their states, they are still in military mindset?

Almijiri in Sokoto is shouting Tinubu, the sophisticated educated Almijiris down south are also shouting President?

Mumu Nigerians need reorientation fast, no state Government or local government is held accountable, even someone in Abia, will blame the governor of Osun state.

Everything na President & Federal Government fault?

Stephen0mozzy:
A thought just hit me now.....

If you take away the money and political influence, is there any Nigerian leader that can inspire the masses by the strength of their character, educate by the depth of their reasoning or by the principles/policies they push for?

BluntCrazeMan:
Bobloco, Garfield1, Penguin2, Dalitigator

The immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has said that Governor Similayi Fubara is not an Ijaw man.

Wike stated this while addressing a large number of Kalabari people at a reception organized for him on Saturday.

Recall that Wike had recently claimed that an Ijaw man would not have become governor in Rivers State without his support, talking about Fubara.

Wike said the Ijaw ethnic group does not constitute the majority in any of the Niger Delta states except Bayelsa.

The statement came amid the ongoing political crisis in the Rivers State, with Wike and Fubara at the center of the feud.

In the same interview, Wike said that people from the Opobo clan of Rivers State, where the governor comes from, are not real Ijaw people.

Speaking to the Kalabaris on Saturday, Wike was more direct, saying, “Let nobody deceive you that the governor is Ijaw; he is not. All of you are Ijaw; are you benefiting? Politics is interest.

“We must come up to say people must not behave and treat people, used and dump them and then you say it’s politics. That politics has to stop.”

Burob:
Bobloco The Federal Wailer, U done turn El Rufai supporter abi .

ChirstFireAltar:
Liar

This is the reception and thanksgiving is ongoing live on TVC and NTA with massive crowd.

Link below...

https://www.youtube.com/live/PCj-ybfYLtM?si=Bb13qruDvDav4M7e

samuel9000:
This one no get sense. U and El- Rufai should go and die.

aswani:
The subsidy was gone, Bubu had not budgeted for it and is the one that should have put any measures in place. What should he have said, "bikonu my people, make una no vex, subsidy is going"?

Vision101:
If it was not done then the hawks would not have allowed it. These are decisions that no government had the guts to take for many years. The signs of bankrupt economy were evident: 1. We were printing money to foot recurrent costs. 2. Fx obligations could not be met. 3. State governments were owing months of salaries. 4. Contractors were not paid etc etc.

Zulu11zulu:
Ok but you can never be our president he is still better than a terrorist wee don't want what happens to southern kaduna to happens in Nigeria,

El-Rufai and his family will hand Nigeria over to his fulani terrorist brothers

El-Rufai is coming for revenge not to better Nigeria.

Your son will be emperor he will be a dictator in aso rock, so go and sit your ass somewhere. 😜