The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), asocio-political organization representing the South-South region, has issued a passionate appeal to President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio to take swift action to restore democratic order in Rivers State, where a prolonged political crisis has left governance in disarray.
In a statement issued Thursday to commemorate Democracy Day, PANDEF’s National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, urged the federal leadership to treat the escalating situation in Rivers as a national emergency that contradicts the very essence of the June 12 democratic legacy.
“PANDEF therefore calls upon the relevant authorities, most especially, President Bola Tinubu, as the father of the nation, and the National Assembly, led by our son, Senator Godswill Akpabio to act without delay to restore democratic governance in Rivers State. The prolonged political crisis in the state has created an environment of instability and uncertainty that directly impacts the well-being of everyday citizens,” the statement read.
Titled ‘Remembering June 12 and our collective call to action in Rivers State’, the statement noted the contradiction between the ideals of June 12 and the reality on the ground in Rivers.
“PANDEF notes that most troubling is the glaring contradiction between the noble ideals and enduring legacy of June 12, as symbolized by the sacrifices of past and surviving heroes and the reality of what can only be described as creeping authoritarianism in Rivers State,” Igali stated.
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The Rivers crisis, festering since March, has been likened to a de facto state of emergency, according to PANDEF. The group warned that continued erosion of democratic institutions in one of the Niger Delta’s most strategic states could have grave national consequences.
“While the nation rightly unites with the President to celebrate Democracy Day, a deeply paradoxical and troubling situation continues to unfold in the strategically important state of Rivers. The people of Rivers State and the wider Niger Delta are being subjected to the erosion of democratic institutions and principles of good governance. This portends grave implications for our collective democratic achievements as a country,” Igali said.
Appealing for peace and reconciliation, Igali urged all political stakeholders in Rivers State to de-escalate tensions.
“Additionally, we appeal to all principal political actors and their supporters in Rivers State to immediately ‘lay down their arms’ and embrace the path of peace. As people of common faith, let us be guided by the injunction in Ecclesiastes 3:8: ‘There is a time to hate and a time to love, a time for war and a time for peace.’ The time for love and peace has come, in solemn honor of the memories of the heroes and martyrs of June 12.”
Igali commended the President for commemorating the legacy of June 12 and acknowledged recent gestures of reconciliation.
“PANDEF extends our congratulations to all Nigerians as we mark twenty-six years of an uninterrupted democratic journey. We particularly salute President Bola Tinubu, who now has the privilege of leading the nation in commemorating Democracy Day — a day that honors the historic June 12, 1993, Presidential election, unjustly annulled by the then-military regime. Of note, we appreciate the state pardon granted to Ken Saro Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine.”
The group also pointed out that while some progress has been made since 1999, fundamental challenges continue to plague Nigeria’s democracy.
“Successive administrations at all levels, since the beginning of the Fourth Republic, including those in place at present, have made strides toward delivering the basic socio-economic dividends of democracy. Yet, it remains an arduous and sluggish journey. Of deep concern are the persistent challenges that directly confront ordinary Nigerians, especially in the critical areas of access to food, security, primary healthcare, basic education and unmitigated environmental degradation of the Niger Delta.”
Reaffirming its role as a guardian of the region’s democratic values, PANDEF pledged unwavering support to any legitimate efforts aimed at restoring stability in Rivers State.
“As the apex socio-political body in the South-South region, PANDEF reaffirms our commitment to support all genuine, collective efforts aimed at realizing the foundational ideals of our democracy. Most especially, we pledge to champion the urgent return of accountable, people-driven governance in Rivers State,” the statement concluded.
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