…Calls It a Betrayal of Niger Delta

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it a betrayal of the Niger Delta region. The apex socio-political body for the South-South expressed its dismay over the six-month suspension of Governor Siminalaye Fubara, stating that the move undermines democratic governance.

In a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting of its Board of Trustees and expanded National Executive Committee, PANDEF urged the National Assembly, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, to reject what it described as an attack on democracy. The group vowed to continue advocating for peace while exploring legal and constitutional avenues to challenge the decision.

PANDEF criticized the declaration as a contradiction of Tinubu’s past stance on state-of-emergency measures. The organization recalled Tinubu’s 2013 opposition to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s state of emergency in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa, where governors were not removed despite the Boko Haram insurgency.

The communiqué, signed by prominent PANDEF leaders, including HRM Alfred Diete-Spiff and former Governor Victor Attah, questioned the timing of the state of emergency, pointing out that the Court of Appeal had yet to rule on the status of 27 Rivers State lawmakers. PANDEF also condemned the militarization of Rivers State over a pipeline explosion, noting that similar incidents have occurred elsewhere without prompting such drastic measures.

The group emphasized its commitment to peace and democratic governance, stating that it would continue to engage with stakeholders, including the Federal Government, to ensure stability in Rivers State and the entire South-South region.