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The Pan Niger Delta Forum has expressed approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to ensure the disbursement of Rivers State’s statutory allocation, a step the group described as a clear sign of his resolve to promote fairness and strengthen national unity.
At Uyo Airport on Saturday, PANDEF’s new National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, spoke to the press, expressing his pleasure with the decision, which he referred to as “a statesmanlike gesture that provides relief for both the people of Rivers State and Nigerians nationwide.”
According to The Eastern Updates, the Federal High Court in Abuja, with Justice Joyce Abdulmalik presiding, ruled in October to stop the Central Bank of Nigeria from disbursing further monthly allocations to Rivers State, pointing to alleged violations of the constitution by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Despite the state government’s appeal against the judgment, the Federal Government stated in a press release that Rivers State would continue to receive its allocations, regardless of the court’s ruling.
PANDEF spokesperson Obiuwevbi Ominimini shared a statement on Sunday in which Igali highlighted that the Federal Government’s intervention would ensure that the innocent residents of Rivers State would not be punished due to political disagreements between their leaders.
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“He stated further that this decision will ensure that the innocent citizens of Rivers State will not suffer vicariously from the family feud between some of the political leaders of the state.
He further expressed the hope that this decision will also aid the efforts by the Obong Victor Attah-led High-Level Peace and Reconciliation Committee recently constituted by PANDEF.”
The PANDEF leader also expressed optimism that the President’s action would bolster ongoing reconciliation efforts led by the High-Level Peace and Reconciliation Committee chaired by Obong Victor Attah.
He called on all political actors, youth groups, and women’s organisations in Rivers State to take a cue from the Federal Government by de-escalating tension and embracing dialogue.
The forum reiterated its call for unity among stakeholders in Rivers State, urging them to support the peace initiatives spearheaded by regional elders.
