PANDEF Condemns Rivers State Emergency Declaration, Says Tinubu stabbed Niger Delta in the back.

PANDEF Condemns Rivers State Emergency Declaration, Says Tinubu stabbed Niger Delta in the back.

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has strongly condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it a betrayal of the Niger Delta people and a direct assault on democracy.

In an emergency meeting held in Abuja, on 19th March, 2025

PANDEF’s Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee decried the suspension of Rivers State’s elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and House of Assembly as an unconstitutional overreach.

The move came just a week after a high-level delegation of South-South leaders, including top traditional rulers, former governors, and ex-service chiefs, met with President Tinubu. During the meeting, Tinubu had reportedly expressed appreciation for PANDEF’s peace efforts and urged continued reconciliation efforts in the region.

However, PANDEF noted that despite the President’s assurances, his administration took drastic action against Rivers State just days later. The group also highlighted inflammatory remarks made by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike against Niger Delta leaders, which the President failed to address.

PANDEF reminded the nation that Tinubu himself had strongly opposed similar actions in 2013 when then-President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in three northeastern states without removing their governors. The group also questioned why Rivers State was singled out for such drastic measures when states in the North, facing severe security crises, have not faced similar interventions.

In its communiqué, PANDEF called on the National Assembly, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, to reject what it termed an “onslaught on democracy.” The group vowed to continue advocating for peace in Rivers State while exploring all constitutional options to challenge the President’s decision.

The Communique signed by HRM Alfred Diete-Spiff, CFR, Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, Co-Chairman, Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees; His Excellency, Obong (Arc.) Victor Attah, Co-Chairman, Board of Trustees; Amb. (Dr.) Godknows B. Igali, OON, National Chairman and Chief (Sir) Obiuwevbi Ominimini, PhD, National Spokesman, reads:

“PRESIDENT TINUBU HAS STABBED THE NIGER DELTA IN THE BACK”

“In the wake of the shocking declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers State and the suspension from office of the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor and the House of Assembly which occurred Tuesday, 18th March 2025, and is now generally condemned by most Nigerians, the Board of Trustees and expanded National Executive Committee of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) held an emergency meeting to review the development and take decisions.

2. After exhaustive deliberations, PANDEF wishes to note as follows, that;

iThe said actions taken by the President have sadly occurred barely one week after he received a high-level South-South delegation of top traditional rulers, former Governors, former Service Chiefs, former Ministers, former Senators, etc., numbering over 100 eminent Nigerian personalities.

ii. At that occasion, the President appreciated the peace efforts of PANDEF Peace and Reconciliation Committee headed by Obong Victor Attah, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and encouraged them to continue with the reconciliation activities and report progress back to him.

iii. The President also charged PANDEF Peace Committee to encourage the Governor to comply with the now heavily flawed Supreme Court Judgement to present the 2025 budget to the State House of Assembly.

iv. On 12th March 2025, less than 24 hours after the visit to the President, his appointee, the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, who is one of the main architects of the crisis in the state, during a media chat, used the most uncomplimentary and derogatory remarks against PANDEF, and the revered leaders of the Niger Delta whom Mr President had honoured as his guests at the State House.

v. We noted with regret that, to date, despite public outcry over that unwholesome attitude, there has been no caution on the said Minister to the knowledge of the Nigerian public.

vi. On 13th March 2025, the Governor wrote to the State House of Assembly intimating to them of his willingness, in compliance with the Supreme Court judgement and the directive of Mr President, to present his 2025 Budget to the Assembly on Wednesday, 19th March 2025. The following day, 14th March 2025, the House of Assembly announced that they were proceeding on an indefinite adjournment. It is curious that while on this adjournment, the House started impeachment proceedings against the Governor and his Deputy by issuing a Notice of Gross Misconduct.

vii. On 17th March 2025, PANDEF wrote to Mr President to express its frustration over the non-cooperative attitude of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the House of Assembly in rebuffing all efforts by the Governor to present the 2025 budget in line with the Supreme Court judgement and Presidential directives.

viii. It was quite alarming that on 18th March 2025, the day before the Governor was due to present the budget, the President, H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State, thereby unilaterally removing the Governor, his Deputy and the entire House of Assembly.

ix. This declaration of state of emergency totally negates the avowed positions of President Tinubu, as was widely publicised during his interventions in May 2013 when former President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa at the height of Boko Haram insurgency even without removing Governors.

x. At the time, President Tinubu, among other things described that decision as an “unmistakable conclusion of the existing ……. to muzzle elected governments of these states of what is clearly a display of unparalleled and diabolic partisanship geared towards 2015”.

xi. Although reference has been made to the blow-up of a pipeline, which PANDEF condemns, the question is if this is the first time such occurrences have happened in Nigeria and even in the life span of the present administration. So, why militarise Rivers State, even before security forces have carried out investigations to determine the cause of what has happened and why use the incident as an alibi to declare a State of Emergency.

xii. Many Nigerian states, particularly in the North East, North West and North Central geopolitical zones live with daily assaults on their very existence. Yet, no state of emergency has been declared!

xiii. Additionally, why declare a state of emergency when the Court of Appeal has just reserved its ruling on the fate of the 27 members of the House of Assembly which was pending before it and was not sufficiently concluded by the Supreme Court judgement and just a few days when a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt commenced hearing on the same matter.

3. Arising from the above, the BOT/NEC of PANDEF unanimously:

i. Calls on the National Assembly led by the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio and Speaker, House of Representatives, Right Honourable Tajudeen Abbas and the entire members to show courage and be on the side of the truth by rejecting in its entirety this onslaught on democratic governance which has never been exercised with such brazenness.

ii. PANDEF, as a respectable body of very senior and eminent citizens of this country representing the interest of the people of the South-South, will continue to sue for peace and work with all sides and the Federal Government towards its attainment in Rivers State and the entire South-South zone.

iii. PANDEF will continue to follow developments and take any other constitutional remedies open to it.