Determined to halt the deepening political crisis in Rivers State, Chairman of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) Reconciliation Committee, Chief Kanu Godwin Agabi, SAN, has urged key actors in the dispute to rise above personal grievances and place peace above power.
Agabi specifically called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and other stakeholders to embrace sacrifice, humility and forgiveness as the only sustainable path to restoring political stability in the state.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the PANDEF Reconciliation Committee, Agabi said the crisis had endured for too long and now posed a moral and political test for all involved.
“The longer this persists, the more it raises questions about our collective commitment to the wellbeing of Rivers people and the unity of Nigeria,” he warned.
He stressed that Rivers State occupies a strategic position in the country’s economic and political architecture, noting that its human capital and natural resources make it far too important to be trapped in prolonged political turmoil.
“Rivers State is too important to Nigeria for anyone to fold their arms,” Agabi said. “What is at stake goes beyond individuals; it touches the stability of the nation itself.”
Using a vivid metaphor, the former Attorney-General of the Federation cautioned against allowing the conflict to escalate unchecked.
“Let Rivers State not become like the clam and the oyster that fought endlessly on the seashore, only to be picked up by a fisherman and turned into a meal,” he said, warning that unresolved disputes often invite external forces with no regard for local interests.
Agabi expressed optimism that peace remains achievable, recalling that the parties in conflict were once allies who supported one another’s political journeys.
“If wrongs have been done, let there be the courage to apologise and the grace to forgive,” he said. “True greatness is not found in stubbornness, but in forgiveness.”
He emphasised that genuine reconciliation must be internally driven, urging all parties to resist actions or rhetoric that could inflame tensions, and instead show restraint, maturity and a willingness to compromise.
The PANDEF chairman paid special tribute to King Alfred Papapraye Diete-Spiff, former Rivers State governor and Amayanabo of Twon-Brass, describing his intervention as historically significant and deserving of deep respect, given his sacrifices for the South-South and the Nigerian state.
Agabi also spoke glowingly of Nyesom Wike, describing him as bold, patriotic and firmly etched into Rivers State’s history through his years as governor and his current role at the national level. He said Wike’s stature places on him a special responsibility to help steer the peace process.
Similarly, he expressed confidence in Governor Siminalayi Fubara, recalling his personal role in defending Fubara during the election petition process, and appealed to him to honour the trust and bonds forged during that period by choosing reconciliation over confrontation.
Turning to the Rivers State House of Assembly, Agabi said PANDEF holds the lawmakers in high esteem and believes their actions are guided by patriotism. He nonetheless urged them to demonstrate statesmanship through restraint and forgiveness in the interest of lasting peace.
He also expressed faith in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ability to navigate the conflicting narratives surrounding the crisis, describing the president’s stabilising role as critical to Nigeria’s democratic system.
Agabi concluded by clarifying that the PANDEF Reconciliation Committee was not established to assign blame or pronounce judgment.
“Our mission is simple,” he said. “To appeal, to persuade, and to plead for peace. Sacrifices must be made. Let them be made—so that Rivers State can move forward in peace.”
Agabi Appeals for Sacrifice, Forgiveness as PANDEF Steps In to Heal Rivers Rift
