By Naomi Sharang

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), a sociopolitical group, has urged stakeholders to use dialogue as a tool to resolve the political crisis in Rivers.

The group urged  Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike to put their differences behind and work for the unity of the state.

The Chairman of PANDEF’s Peace and Reconciliation Committee, Obong Victor Attah, at a news conference in Abuja, on Friday, said dialogue remained the best path to a lasting peace.

According to him, PANDEF has actively engaged key stakeholders in Rivers,  including Fubara and his allies in efforts to douse the tensions.

“We spent four days in Port Harcourt meeting various stakeholders. We believe peace secured through discussion is far better than one enforced by a court ruling.

“We are working to bring both sides together for meaningful dialogue,” Attah said.

Attah further said that PANDEF had reached out to Wike, a former governor of Rivers, seeking his cooperation in resolving the impasse but efforts to secure a meeting with him had so far been unsuccessful.

“We have sent letters, text messages and WhatsApp messages to the minister and his close allies urging him to meet with PANDEF.

“Our goal is to ensure peace in Rivers so the government can function smoothly,” he said.

He called on President Bola Tinubu to impress upon the key personalities involved in the Rivers crisis,  including Wike, on  the necessity of prioritising peace.

“We were firm in our resolve that an amicable resolution must be secured. Such a resolution can only be secured by negotiation, hence our setting up of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee,’’ he said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of PANDEF, Godknows Igali, noted that the group had a meeting with the President where he urged the group  to sustain its mediatory efforts in the Rivers crisis.

“Regarding the situation in Rivers, PANDEF fully embraced Mr President’s directive to the organisation to sustain its ongoing mediatory and reconciliation efforts-an initiative the President commended.

“Since that meeting, PANDEF has intensified engagements with key stakeholders, fostering dialogue to achieve an amicable resolution that guarantees lasting peace and harmony in Rivers,’’ he said.

He, however, expressed sadness over Wike’s continued refusal to engage with the peace and reconciliation committee, which PANDEF constituted as far back as October 2024 in spite of repeated attempts to reach him.(NAN)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Chioma Ugboma