Politics

PANDEF Presents Eight-point Agenda To Tinubu, Seeks Intervention In Rivers Crisis

Published

1 year ago

March 13, 2025

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene decisively in the lingering political crisis in Rivers State, warning that continued instability in the oil-rich region could have far-reaching consequences for national peace and economic stability.

During a high-profile visit to the State House in Abuja on Tuesday, PANDEF leaders, including traditional rulers, former governors, and senior political figures, presented an eight-point agenda to the President, highlighting pressing issues affecting the South-South geopolitical zone.

At the forefront of their concerns is the escalating political tension in Rivers State, where conflicting court rulings have deepened the divide between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Despite the governor’s public commitment to abide by a recent Supreme Court ruling, PANDEF expressed fears that the situation remains volatile.

To address the crisis, the group has constituted a High-Level Peace and Reconciliation Committee led by former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Victor Attah. However, PANDEF leaders believe that only a direct intervention by President Tinubu can bring a lasting resolution. They urged the President to ensure that all parties prioritize peace and work towards an amicable settlement outside the courts.

PANDEF also pressed for the immediate assent to the South-South Development Commission Bill, which they argue is distinct from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). According to the group, while the NDDC focuses on oil-producing communities, a South-South Development Commission would drive holistic regional growth, similar to commissions established for other geopolitical zones.

The group called on the federal government to revisit the fallout of the 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgment that ceded the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon. PANDEF lamented the displacement of indigenous communities, warning that the affected people face the threat of cultural extinction.

Rising cases of kidnappings, violent attacks, and piracy in the South-South also featured prominently in PANDEF’s agenda. The leaders urged the government to strengthen security measures, warning that unchecked criminal activities could lead to a resurgence of militancy. They specifically called for the urgent establishment of a Coast Guard unit to protect coastal communities.

PANDEF criticized the inadequate allocation of funds for critical infrastructure in the South-South despite the region’s significant contributions to national revenue. They decried the deplorable state of key roads, including the East-West Road and the Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Road, and demanded immediate government intervention.

The group also called for the development of new deep-sea ports in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Edo states to boost Nigeria’s maritime economy.

PANDEF urged the federal government to facilitate greater involvement of Niger Delta indigenes in the oil and gas industry, including leadership positions within the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other key agencies.

They also advocated for the implementation of modular refineries to curb illegal oil refining, reduce pollution, and create economic opportunities for locals.

Reiterating concerns about environmental degradation due to oil exploration, PANDEF called for an expanded clean-up initiative beyond Ogoniland to other affected communities in the Niger Delta.

Concluding their presentation, PANDEF emphasized the need for constitutional reforms to return Nigeria to true fiscal federalism, a position they noted President Tinubu had championed in the past. They argued that restructuring the revenue-sharing formula would empower regions to drive their own development more effectively.

While President Tinubu has yet to make a public statement on PANDEF’s demands, sources at the meeting indicated that he assured the delegation of his administration’s commitment to addressing the concerns of the Niger Delta region.

With tensions in Rivers State still unresolved and economic challenges mounting, PANDEF’s appeal underscores the urgent need for decisive leadership to stabilize the South-South and ensure sustainable development.

(VANGUARD)

Related Topics:Fubara PANDEF Rivers Assembly

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Politics

JUST IN: Why I left ADC For NDC With Kwankwaso – Peter Obi Opens Up

Published

18 hours ago

May 4, 2026

Editor

A former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has given reasons why he resigned from the African Democratic Congress, ADC, to join the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, alongside a former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

In a long post on X on Monday, Obi insisted it was not out of anger or ambition.

Rather, he said the move is a continuation of the quest to build a new Nigeria.

Obi wrote: “Yesterday, I formally joined the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), alongside my dear brother, Engr. Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, with one clear purpose: to continue the struggle for a new Nigeria built on justice, competence, accountability, and compassion for the ordinary Nigerian.

“As I stated yesterday, this decision was not made out of anger, personal ambition, or convenience. It came after deep reflection on the present condition of our nation and the urgent need to rescue Nigeria from the dangerous path it is currently heading.

“Over the years, I have remained steadfast in my conviction that politics should never be about individuals, positions, or personal gain. It must be about the people, especially the millions of Nigerians who today can no longer afford necessities, whose businesses are collapsing, whose children are losing hope, and whose future is becoming increasingly uncertain.

“I left the ADC for the same reason I left the Labour Party: the severe, orchestrated litigation and internal crises deliberately designed to ensure that I, alongside many other notable individuals, do not effectively participate in the electoral process. I sincerely appreciate and remain deeply grateful to the Leadership of ADC for the opportunity to work together in pursuit of a better Nigeria. I am particularly grateful to ADC Chairman Senator David Mark for his exceptional Leadership. I also deeply appreciate my Leader and elder brother YE, Atiku Abubakar, as well as other respected leaders within the party.

“As we join the NDC, I sincerely appeal to the Nigerian Government against the encouragement of unresolved litigations and the infusion of crises within political parties. Democracy must never become a weapon against the people. A healthy democracy thrives on strong institutions, credible alternatives, and the freedom of citizens to make choices without intimidation, manipulation, or fear. Opposition parties must not be weakened or destroyed, because when democracy loses balance, the people ultimately suffer.

“Nigeria today is passing through one of the most difficult periods in its history. Poverty is rising. Hunger is widespread. Insecurity continues to threaten lives and livelihoods. Businesses are shutting down daily. Our young people are becoming discouraged, and many citizens have lost faith in the system. At a time like this, leadership must be driven not by propaganda or division, but by competence, capacity, character, and compassion.

“Our decision to join the NDC is therefore not an abandonment of values, but a continuation of the same mission we have always stood for: building a Nigeria where leadership is about service, where public resources are managed responsibly, where institutions function independently, and where every Nigerian, regardless of tribe, religion, region, or social status, can live with dignity, security, and hope.

“I remain committed to working with all Nigerians of goodwill across political, ethnic, and religious lines. The task before us is bigger than any individual or political party. It is about the future of our children and the survival of our dear nation.

“I thank Nigerians, especially our youths and women, for remaining peaceful, resilient, and hopeful despite the enormous challenges confronting the country. I urge you not to lose faith in Nigeria. Nations do not change because people surrender to hopelessness; they change because people continue to believe, continue to sacrifice, and continue to stand for what is right.”

Politics

Peter Obi, Kwankwaso Formally Join NDC, Warn Members Against Litigation

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned party members to steer clear of any form of litigation that can plunge the party into chaos ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking in Abuja on Sunday after he was formally joined the party alongside the former governor of Kano State,

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso , the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party(LP), urged members to embrace dialogue in the interest of the party

“Please let there be no litigation. Party members, please don’t go to court. We want to build a party, we are not lawyers,” he pleaded.

The two political figures were received into the opposition party on Sunday at its national secretariat in Abuja.

Earlier, Obi had announced his exit from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Kwankwaso had indicated he was engaged in “wide-ranging consultations” with the NDC.

The National Chairman of the party, Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, presented membership cards to both leaders at the event.

Speaking afterwards, Kwankwaso said their engagement with NDC stakeholders was driven by a shared vision and ideological alignment.

“We came to discuss with stakeholders of the party and found that our ideologies and beliefs are largely the same,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to register with the NDC ahead of the deadline for party membership registration, stressing the need for broader participation in the political process.

Politics

Edo South Senatorial Seat: Nothing Wrong Seeking Wike’s Support – Ogbeide-Ihama

Published

3 days ago

May 2, 2026

Editor

Edo South All Progressives Congress’ senatorial aspirant, Omeregie Ogbeide-Ihama, on Saturday said that there is nothing wrong seeking the Federal Capital Territory Minister, nyesom Wike’s support for his political ambition.

The former House of Representatives member was reacting to insinuation in some quarters that he had gone to meet the FCT Minister for help in order to get the party’s ticket.

Ogbeide-Ihama, who spoke when he visited the leadership of the Edo South Senatorial District to declare his intention to contest the senatorial seat, said if such insinuations of meeting Wike for support was true, there is nothing bad so far meeting Wike can guarantee him the ticket.

Ogbeide-Ihama appealed to the senatorial leaders of the party to give the ticket to the most qualified aspirants, stressing that “it is not a game of try your luck or gamble.”

According to him, among the aspirants, he is the most qualified having gone to the House of Representatives twice.

He stressed that he feels most qualified and experienced to be saddled with the responsibility and not someone who wants to learn on the job.

Ogbeide-Ihama, while stating his ordeals when contesting on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said his billboards were pulled down several times yet he won the election.

He added that now that he has joined the APC, the election should be easy sailing because he is now one of them.

He further appealed to the leadership of the party that they should know that times are changing and the world is gravitating towards the youth, adding that as a youth, he should be sent to represent the senatorial district because he still has the strength and energy to champion the cause of the seven local government areas that make up the Edo South Senatorial district.

Earlier, the Edo South Senatorial district leader and former deputy governor of the state, Pius Odubu, said that the election should be seen as that of a family affair.

He appealed to Ogbeide-Ihama to go about his campaign in a peaceful manner