PANDEF Constitutes 7-Man Committee To Reconcile Wike, Fubara
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has constituted a seven-member peace and reconciliation committee to intervene in the escalating political crisis in Rivers State.
The apex socio-political organisation of the South-South region has issued a two-week ultimatum to the committee to broker peace and restore stability in the state.
The committee is chaired by a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi, SAN, with Senator Obende Domingo serving as Vice Chairman.
Other members of the panel include; a former Minister of Housing, Chief Essien Nduese; a retired Federal Permanent Secretary, Dr. Timiebi Koripamo-Agari; a retired Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Chief Mike Ejiofor; a former Cross River State Attorney-General, Mrs. Nella Rabana-Andem, SAN; while PANDEF’s Deputy National Secretary, Prince Godwin Okotie, will serve as Secretary.
PANDEF’s National Chairman, Godknows Igali, who inaugurated the committee in Abuja on Monday, said the panel was mandated to de-escalate tensions between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly, restore stability in the state, and facilitate dialogue between the executive and the legislature.
Igali also urged both Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who are members of PANDEF, to respect the outcome of the reconciliation process.
The terms of reference of the committee include identifying the principal actors in the crisis, engaging key stakeholders such as former governors, traditional rulers and political leaders, and submitting a comprehensive report with recommendations to PANDEF’s Board of Trustees and the President within 14 days.
In his acceptance speech, Agabi described the assignment as a solemn responsibility and called on all parties involved to embrace humility, forgiveness and dialogue.
He warned that the prolonged crisis could undermine the welfare of Rivers State residents and threaten national stability.
Also present at the inauguration were the Amayanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff, former governors and other eminent leaders, including Obong Victor Attah.
Diete-Spiff urged both Wike and Fubara to embrace peace, while Attah stressed that the committee must remain neutral and prioritise the welfare of the people of Rivers State above individual interests.
OSUN DEFENDER reported that two members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, on Monday, withdrew their support for the ongoing impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, urging their colleagues to pursue a political solution rather than seek their removal from office.
The lawmakers, Sylvanus Enyi Nwankwo, representing the Omuma State Constituency and the Assembly’s Minority Leader, and Peter Abi of the Degema State Constituency, made their position known in a video posted on social media.
In the video, the legislators appealed to Assembly members to temper justice with mercy and pursue an amicable resolution to the crisis affecting the state legislature.
Addressing the impeachment notice already issued against the governor and his deputy, the lawmakers said they convened the press briefing to formally appeal to their colleagues.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
