Rivers Crisis: Agabi, Rabana Make Seven Man PANDEF Reconciliatory Panel

By Jonathan Ugbal

The Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF on Monday inaugurated a seven-member peace and reconciliation committee led by a former Attorney General of Nigeria, Kanu Agabi, SAN over the lingering political crisis in Rivers State.

The committee, which according to Mr. Kanu, is not constituted to apportion blames or judge the parties involved, described the task as “solemn,” with their duty to, “appeal, to urge, and to beg for reconciliation,” as the political standoff between Rivers Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike took another dimension recently with the House of Assembly moving to impeach the Governor.

While a former Attorney General of Cross River State, Nella Rabana-Andem, SAN is a member, the committee, which has two weeks to carry out its duty, has Senator Obende Domingo who represented Edo North in the Senate as vice chairman; PANDEF’s Deputy National Secretary, Prince Godwin Okoitie as secretary.

Others are former Minister of Housing, Chief Essien Nduese; retired federal permanent Secretary, Dr. Timiebi Koripamo-Agari, and a retired director of Nigeria’s secret police, the SSS, Chief Mike Ejiofor.

At the inauguration held in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, PANDEF’s National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali disclosed that the terms of reference includes identifying key actors in the crisis, reaching out to key stakeholders whose influence can help facilitate peace as well as facilitate peace between the executive and legislature to restore stability, law, and order.

The committee is also mandated to consult widely, maintain confidentiality, ensure resolutions align with the constitutional and the democratic will of the people.

Vanguard Newspapers reports that Mr. Igali expressed hope that Messrs Fubara and Wike; both members of PANDEF, will respect the outcome especially, given the moral authority of the organization and pedigree of the committee members.

“It is our belief that as committed members of PANDEF and leaders with a stake in the Niger Delta, all parties involved will respect the process and abide by the outcome of the committee’s work,” Igali said.

For Agabi, the crisis has gone on for too long and parties involved should know the consequences of allowing the issue to spiral out of control.

“Let Rivers State not be like the clam and the oyster that fought on the seashore until they were picked up by a fisherman and made into a meal,’’ Agabi said, adding that true reconciliation from both parties which supported each other in the past, must come from within.

“If they have offended one another, they must be humble enough to apologise and generous enough to forgive. True greatness lies in forgiveness,” he said.