By Charles Olewezi

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has warned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to desist from making inflammatory statements against the present and past leaders of PANDEF as well as its traditional rulers. The Forum also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call Wike to order by asking him to withdraw his inflammatory statements and accord due respect to the PANDEF leaders.

At a press conference convened by the Chairman of PANDEF, Ambassador (Dr.) Godknows Igali, the Forum regretted that her last visit to the President to discuss matters of interest to the Niger Delta region in particular and the nation at large was grossly misrepresented by the FCT Minister in his recent media chat.

Igali said “ We find it necessary to address a deeply concerning and regrettable development that has arisen in the aftermath of our visit to the president – namely, the media chat conducted by the Honourable Minister of the FCT and former Governor of Rivers State, Chief NyesomWike, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

“The visit to Mr. President, attended by eminent South-South leaders, including the region’s most senior traditional rulers, former governors, senators, ministers, retired senior military officers, business leaders, and other distinguished citizens, was held at the invitation of Mr. President himself. The meeting provided a valuable platform to discuss pressing issues of national and regional importance including the imperative of peace in Rivers State and PANDEF’s ongoing mediatory efforts.
“It is therefore, both shocking and unfortunate that, barely 24 hours after this significant engagement with Mr. President – an engagement that rekindled hope for peace and stability – the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, held a media chat in which he launched an unwarranted and deeply inappropriate attack on PANDEF and its leadership”.

The PANDEF chairman urged Tinubu to prevail upon Wike to retract his “inflammatory statements” and show respect to the Niger Delta leaders and traditional rulers.
“In his remarks, the honourable minister characterized PANDEF as ‘the worst organization ever’ and accused its members of visiting the Presidential Villa merely to solicit financial favors,” Igali said.

“These statements are not only false but also unbecoming of a public official of his stature. “It is, therefore, highly regrettable and unacceptable that a serving minister in the federal government would exhibit such brazen disrespect towards individuals of this standing”.

The political crisis in Rivers State has lingered since 2023 after the attempt by the State House of Assembly to impeach the State Governor Siminalayi Fubara failed. All efforts by PANDEF and other high level individuals including President Tinubu to intervene and resolve the crisis have also failed to yield positive results.