PANDEF To Nyesome Wike You are Playing With Fire.

PANDEF To Nyesome Wike You are Playing With Fire.

Amb. Dr Godknows Boladei Igali is a distinguished Nigerian public servant, diplomat, author, and scholar with a remarkable career. He served as an ambassador to Scandinavian countries, including Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, from 2007 to 2010, appointed by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.

Igali's impressive resume also includes his tenure as the Federal Permanent Secretary for Water Resources, starting in 2010, and his subsequent redeployment to the Federal Ministry of Power by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013. Notably, he was a governorship contestant in Bayelsa State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

As the president of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Igali expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for receiving a high-level South-South delegation at the State House, Abuja, on March 11, 2025. However, Igali also addressed concerns regarding a media chat by Chief Nyesom Wike, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Governor of Rivers State, which took place on March 12, 2025.

The recent visit to the President was a significant gathering of esteemed South-South leaders, including senior traditional rulers, former governors, senators, ministers, and business leaders. Held at the President's invitation, the meeting aimed to address pressing national and regional issues.

Key discussion points in the meeting:

--Peace and Stability in Rivers State:

The imperative of peace in Rivers State and PANDEF's ongoing mediatory efforts to achieve lasting harmony.

--Regional Development: The need for Presidential assent to the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) Bill, ensuring equitable development in the region.

--Infrastructure Development*: Urgent development of road networks and optimal utilization of existing and new ports.

--Socio-Economic Challenges: Resolving challenges affecting victims of the Bakassi crisis and promoting greater inclusion of South-South indigenes in the oil and gas sector.

--Environmental Cleanup: The necessity of a systematic environmental cleanup in oil-producing states.

--Federalism and Restructuring: Continued advocacy for true federalism and restructuring.

PANDEF's Expectations from the Engagement.

The people of the South-South, represented by PANDEF, have high hopes for tangible progress in the near future, following the acknowledgment of their concerns by the President. With assurances of follow-up action, PANDEF expects diligent pursuit of these issues to yield meaningful results.

Regarding the Rivers State situation, PANDEF welcomed the President's directive to continue mediation and reconciliation efforts. This initiative has been intensified, with PANDEF engaging key stakeholders to foster dialogue and achieve a lasting resolution, ensuring peace and harmony in Rivers State.

Disparaging Comments by the Honourable Minister It is, therefore, both shocking and unfortunate that, barely 24 hours after this significant engagement with Mr. President—an  engagement that rekindled hope for peace and stability— the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, held a media chat in which he launched an unwarranted and deeply inappropriate attack on PANDEF and its leadership. 

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. These statements are not only false but also unbecoming of a public official of his stature. Even more concerning was his disparaging remarks directed at revered South-South leaders, including the late Chief E.K. Clark, a  national icon and former PANDEF leader, whose legacy was duly recognized by Mr. President during our visit, with a minute of silence observed in his honor. Equally unacceptable was the crude  and disrespectful attack on another national treasure His Majesty, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, former Military Governor of Rivers State and current Chairman of PANDEF’s Board of Trustees. 

PANDEF’s Stance To set the record straight, PANDEF the foremost socio-political body representing the South-South regions, composed of some of Nigeria’s most distinguished personalities. The delegation to Mr.  President included chairpersons of at least four of the six SouthSouth states' traditional councils, senior traditional rulers of major ethnic groups, former governors, past presiding officers of the Senate, prominent entrepreneurs, academics, and high-ranking retired military officers. 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. 

The Efforts of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee For the avoidance of doubt, the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which remains committed to resolving the Rivers State crisis, comprises distinguished statesmen, including: - Obong Victor Attah, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State. - Col. Pam Ogar, former Military Governor of Kwara State. - H.E. Admiral Jonah John, former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State. - Chief Mrs. Stella Omu, Engr. Emmanuel Ibok-Essien and Sen. Roland Owie, all three at different times former Chief Whips of the Senate. - Rt. Hon. Stella Dorgu, former leader in the House of Representatives. 

While the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has demonstrated willingness to engage with this committee, the Honourable Minister has consistently rebuffed all attempts to reach him opening up at dialogue. Given his open hostility and dismissive attitude toward PANDEF, the organization can no longer subject these esteemed senior Nigerians on peace mission to such levels of disregard and disrespect.

PANDEF Urges President Tinubu to Intervene in Wike's Inflammatory Remarks.

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) is calling on President Bola Tinubu to step in and address the inflammatory statements made by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). PANDEF is urging the President to prevail upon Wike to retract his statements and show respect to the eminent Nigerians and traditional rulers who were guests of the Commander-in-Chief.

PANDEF's national chairman, Godknows Igali, described Wike's remarks as "unacceptable, unwarranted, and deeply inappropriate." Igali described Wike's behavior as "errant conduct" that should not be condoned, reminding him that he does not own the Niger Delta.

Despite the unfortunate turn of events, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) remains steadfast in its dedication to promoting peace, stability, and equitable development in the Niger Delta region. The organization is committed to continuing its vigorous engagement with all relevant stakeholders to achieve lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region.