‘You Don’t Own Niger Delta’ — Igali Hits Back At Wike

The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), led by Ambassador Godknows Igali, has fired back at the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, over his recent verbal attack on the group.

Igali, at the weekend, declared that Wike “does not own the Niger Delta and his errant conduct should not be condoned.”

This came after the minister, during a media chat on Thursday, described PANDEF as “the worst organisation anybody can rely on” and called the board of trustee members of the forum “political merchants.”

Wike’s criticism of the group followed the South-South leaders’ meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Tuesday.

The delegation, which included traditional rulers, former governors, and senators, had discussed pressing issues facing the South-South region, including the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.

Barely 48 hours after the meeting, Wike, a former Rivers State governor, held a media chat where he lambasted the group.

In response, Igali convened a press conference to address what he called “unwarranted and deeply inappropriate” attacks on PANDEF and its leadership.

He expressed shock that Wike would launch such an attack barely 24 hours after the delegation engaged with President Bola Tinubu, “that rekindled hope for peace and stability.”

Igali described Wike’s remarks as disrespectful to revered South-South leaders, including the late Chief E.K. Clark, the late founder of PANDEF.

“It is, therefore, highly regrettable and totally unacceptable that a serving minister in the Federal Government would exhibit such brazen disrespect towards individuals of this standing. This attitude perhaps explains his continued refusal of the Minister to engage with the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which PANDEF constituted as far back as October 2024, despite repeated attempts to reach it,” he said.

The PANDEF chairman revealed that while Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has demonstrated a willingness to engage with the organisation’s reconciliation committee, Wike has “consistently rebuffed all attempts” to reach him.

Igali, therefore, called on President Tinubu to prevail on Wike to “retract his inflammatory statements and extend due respect to these eminent Nigerians and traditional rulers.”

He reaffirmed PANDEF’s commitment to peace, stability, and equitable development in the Niger Delta, promising to “continue to engage with great vigour, all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region.”

During the delegation’s visit to the State House, President Tinubu reiterated the need for adherence to the rule of law in Rivers State to ensure lasting peace and prosperity.

“This is a nation governed by the rule of law. I should not be here as president without a rule of law. I have total confidence in our judiciary. We have expectations. Human beings can make errors. But once the court has spoken, that is it.

“Please go back home and help implement the court rulings within the shortest possible time. I am putting the ball in your court. Help! Privately and openly intervene and counsel the governor. Pursue the path of peace and stability,” Tinubu told the delegation.

He charged the South-South leaders to “go back home and take charge of peace,” adding, “If you need me, let me know. I have given the situation enough time and enough consideration. We cannot fall back, and we will not. The people of Rivers State will not suffer because of democracy. We worked together on it. They will not suffer. They must be protected.”

‘You Don’t Own Niger Delta’ — Igali Hits Back At Wike is first published on The Whistler Newspaper