The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has set up a seven-member High-Level Peace and Reconciliation Committee to tackle the protracted political crisis in Rivers State, giving the body 14 days to broker peace and restore political stability.
The committee, inaugurated under the authority of PANDEF National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, is chaired by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Godwin Agabi, SAN, CON.
According to PANDEF, the committee’s primary mandate is to de-escalate tensions arising from the political standoff between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly, which has continued to disrupt governance in the state.
As part of its terms of reference, the committee is expected to identify all principal actors involved in the crisis, particularly those central to the dispute between the governor and the leadership of the House of Assembly. It will also engage a broad spectrum of stakeholders whose influence could prove critical to peace.
These include the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, former governors of Rivers State, respected elders of the Niger Delta, traditional rulers, and other key political leaders within and outside the state.
A major pillar of the committee’s assignment is the facilitation of dialogue, with emphasis on promoting open, honest and constructive engagement between Governor Fubara and members of the State House of Assembly as a pathway to resolving outstanding grievances and achieving a mutually acceptable settlement.
PANDEF further mandated the committee to propose practical steps for restoring reconciliation, political stability, law and order, and for safeguarding the welfare and security of citizens across Rivers State.
The terms of reference also underscore the importance of tolerance, compromise and political balance among all parties, warning that failure to embrace these values could further deepen the crisis.
In addition, the committee is required to ensure that any resolution reached reflects the democratic will of the people of Rivers State and conforms strictly with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
Recognising the sensitivity of the reconciliation process, PANDEF directed that all information shared during consultations be treated with strict confidentiality, in order to build trust and encourage frank and meaningful dialogue.
The committee is expected to consult widely with individuals, groups and institutions directly or indirectly affected by the crisis, with the aim of building broad-based consensus for sustainable peace.
At the end of its assignment, the committee is to submit a comprehensive report within 14 days. The report will be forwarded to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Co-Chairmen of PANDEF’s Board of Trustees.
PANDEF said the intervention reaffirms its commitment to peace, democratic governance and political stability in the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.
PANDEF Constitutes Reconciliatory panel, Sets two-week Deadline to Resolve Rivers Crisis
