The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has urged President Bola Tinubu to rein in Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), over his “inflammatory” remarks against the group amid the ongoing political crisis in Rivers state.
PANDEF leaders expressed concern that Wike’s refusal to engage in peace talks was stalling efforts to resolve the rift between Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers state, and the house of assembly members.
On Tuesday, PANDEF leaders visited President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja over the political crisis in the Rivers state.
During the visit, Tinubu urged the Niger Delta leaders to counsel Fubara, governor of Rivers, on the need to comply with the supreme court rulings on the crisis in the state.
Rivers state has been enmeshed in political crisis following the conflict between Fubara and Wike.
The rift has led to a polarisation of the Rivers state legislature.
Speaking at a media chat on Wednesday, Wike said he heard PANDEF leaders visited the president, adding that the group is “the worst organization anybody can rely on”.
The FCT minister said some PANDEF leaders had criticised the president for intervening in the Rivers crisis through the December 2023 peace pact.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Victor Attah, former governor of Akwa Ibom state, said Tinubu did not give the impression that he was meeting with the “worst organisation anybody can rely on”.
Attah, who is also the chairman of PANDEF reconciliation committee, said Wike’s comment explains the reasons behind his refusal to meet with the committee on the Rivers crisis.
“We made it clear to Mr. President that there was a need for him to impress upon the key personalities involved, one of whom is his cabinet minister, the necessity of prioritizing peace,” he said.
“We were firm in our resolve that an amicable resolution must be secured. Such a resolution can only be secured by negotiation, hence our setting up of the peace and reconciliation committee.
“We brought to the attention of Mr. President, the difficulties that we were experiencing in trying to secure the cooperation of his cabinet minister for the federal capital territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, since all our attempts in the past to meet with the Hon. minister had been rebuffed.”
Also speaking, Godknows Igali, PANDEF national chairman, said FCT minister’s comment against leaders of the forum was “unacceptable, unwarranted and deeply inappropriate”.
Igali said while Fubara has shown willingness to engage with the forum, Wike has consistently rejected attempts for dialogue.
The PANDEF chairman appealed to the president to prevail upon Wike to retract his “inflammatory statements and extend due respect to these eminent Nigerians and traditional rulers”.
“In his remarks, the honourable minister characterized PANDEF as ‘the worst organization ever’ and accused its members of visiting the Presidential Villa merely to solicit financial favors,” Igali said.
“These statements are not only false but also unbecoming of a public official of his stature.
“It is, therefore, highly regrettable and totally unacceptable that a serving minister in the federal government would exhibit such brazen disrespect towards individuals of this standing.
“This attitude perhaps explains his continued refusal of the minister to engage with the peace and reconciliation committee, which PANDEF constituted as far back as October 2024, despite repeated attempts to reach.
“PANDEF hereby calls upon Mr. President, as the father of the nation, to prevail upon the honourable minister to retract his inflammatory statements and extend due respect to these eminent Nigerians and traditional rulers who were, after all, esteemed guests of the Commander-in-Chief.
“It is apt to remind that the Minister does not own the Niger-Delta and his errant conduct should not be condoned.”
