The Niger PAN Delta Forum (Pandef) has raised concerns about the rejection of the Minister of the Federal Capital (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to commit to its Peace and Reconciliation Committee, despite the appeal of President Bola Tinubu so that the dialogue to restore stability in the state of Rivers.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday in Abuja, the president of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee of Pandef and former governor of the state of Cross River, Obong Victor Attah, regretted that Wike's lack of will to meet with the committee is obstructing the efforts to reduce tensions in the state.
Attaah explained how Pandef, a respected regional agency established in 2016 to defend the interests of the Niger Delta, had taken proactive measures to mediate in the political crisis in the state of Rivers.
After a special general assembly in Port Harcourt in October 2024, the group established a Peace Committee and High Level Reconciliation of seven members.
In particular, the Committee excluded any representative of the State of Rivers to guarantee neutrality.
Also read: Rivers Crisis: Call Wike, Fubara to order, Pandef urge Tinubu
“In determining to prevent a complete crisis from developing, we constitute an eminent elder team from the entire South-South region,” said Attaah.
“However, despite the repeated attempts, we have not been able to ensure a meeting with Chief Nyesom Wike, who has continued to reject our peace efforts.”
According to Attah, a Pandef delegation met with President Tinubu on March 11, 2025 to find his intervention. The delegation made it clear that the success of any peace process depended on Wike's will to come to the table.
“We inform Mr. President of the difficulties we have faced to ensure the cooperation of his cabinet minister,” ATTAH explained.
“It is deeply worrying that Chief Wike has ruled out Pandef as” the worst organization for anyone to trust “in a recent media chat, however, the president did not treat us with so many despising when he received us.”
Attaah emphasized that dialogue requires mutual commitment and cannot be forced to a single part.
“It is not possible to applaud with one hand. Negotiation can only take place if both parties in dispute agree to be accessible and available, ”he said.
Given Wike's continuous rejection, Pandef is now considering retiring completely from mediation efforts.
“If this impasse persists, we will have no choice but to dissolve the Peace and Reconciliation Committee and step back from any additional attempt to resolve this crisis,” ATTAH warned. “However, our fear is that this can have catastrophic consequences.”
Pandef urged President Tinubu to intervene and make sure Wike arrives at the negotiating table before the situation in the state rivers states in spiral out of control.
Details later …
Nigerian tribe