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PANDEF SETS UP COMMITTEE TO RECONCILE WIKE, FUBARA
The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), under the leadership of South-South elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has established a High Level Peace and Reconciliation Committee aimed at resolving the ongoing tensions between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
This decision was announced in a communiqué after a special general assembly meeting in Port Harcourt over the weekend.
The committee is tasked with addressing the dispute between the two political figures and mitigating any further conflicts within the region.
The Communique was signed by King Alfred Diette-Spiff, the Amayanabo of Twon Brass and first Military Governor of Rivers State as Co-Chairman, Board of Trustees; former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, Co-Chairman, Board of Trustees; former Nigeria Ambassador to Scandinavian countries( Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway), Dr. Godknows B. Igali, National Chairman; Hon Godwin Okotie, Ag. National Secretary and Dr. Obiuwevbi Ominimini, National Spokesman.
The Reconciliation Committee, which is headed by Obong Victor Attah, Co-Chairman, Pandef BOT, has Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien; former Senate Whip, Senator Rowland Owie; Senator Stella Omu; former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral G. John-Jonah; H. E. Pam Ogar, and Rt. Hon. Dr. Stella Dorgu as members.
It said, “The Assembly hereby sets up a High Level Peace and Reconciliation Committee to mediate on and resolve all disputes and conflicts within the area. The Committee is headed by His Excellency, Obong Victor Attah, Co-Chairman, Pandef BOT. Others on the Committee are Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien, Senator Rowland Owie, Senator Stella Omu, H. E. Rear Admiral G. John-Jonah, H. E. Pam Ogar, and Rt. Hon. Dr. Stella Dorgu.”
Though the political impasse between former Rivers State governor Wike and Fubara was not added in the Communique, when PANDEF’s Spokesman was asked if it was part of the mandate, he said in a text that “Wike and fubare are not members of the cttee but the mandate of the cttee includes reconcilling their conflict.”
Recall that Wike and Fubara have been at loggerheads since the latter assumed office as governor in 2023, just as Fubara had said that his rift with Wike is tied to a tussle over power and control in Rivers State.
The cold war between the duo had continued despite President Bola Tinubu and other relevant stakeholders’ intervention.
PANDEF has also condemned, in very strong terms, the scrapping of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs by President Bola Tinubu last week, calling on the federal government to further discuss the issue with a view to addressing several specific concerns, especially at a time when the government is pursuing policies to increase oil production radically.
The body said that the Federal Government dissolved the Ministry into a non-existing body without due consideration to those specific circumstances that led to its creation nor consultation with the critical stakeholders.
According to the Communique, the Ministry of Niger Delta was established to address specific issues bordering on the peculiar circumstances of the Niger Delta, its damaged environment and its overall importance to the national economy, even as it welcomed the proposed South-South Commission to supplement existing Federal Agencies, saying however that the name of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NÐDC) should reflect its functions and the actual membership.
Moved by the poor level of education in the region, PANDEF has called on the State Governments to guarantee tuition- free education at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, advising that the Region should aim at an average of one tertiary institution in each of the 185 LGAs, adding that the minimum annual budget support in all the states of the Niger Delta should be 25% in line with the template recommended by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO.
PANDEF has also called on the Federal Government to repair all failed roads, complete the East-West Highway, commence the building of the Calabar-Lagos railway, as well as set up maritime mass transit system for the riverine areas of the Niger Delta.
PANDEF at the end of the meeting also called on the Federal Government to show greater commitment in ensuring fairness in the manner in which the legal regime in the oil and gas sector, regarding participation of host communities is brought at par with the solid mineral sector, even as it urged Niger
