President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has waded into the political crisis in Rivers state, with a call to Governor Similayi Fubara and all other major actors to ensure adherence to the rule of law for the return of lasting peace and prosperity.
The president spoke Tuesday at a meeting in Abuja with representatives and leaders of the Niger Delta under the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
PANDEF, convened by the late elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, who passed away February, is the umbrella body of major stakeholders from the region including the traditional rulers and other leaders from the coastal states.
The roll call
Both Fubara and the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, were conspicuously absent at the meeting.
The roll call of attendees at the meeting includes Chairman PANDEF Board of Trustees King Alfred Diete-Spiff, the co-chairman of the BoT, Obong Victor Attah, its national chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, and former Cross River state Governor Liyel Imoke.
Others include Professor Mike Ozekhome (SAN), a former Bayelsa state governor and serving lawmaker, Senator Seriake Dickson, former Rivers Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru, former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Timi Alaibe and Senator Ita Enang.
Also at the meeting are Jaja of Opobo Professor Dandeson Jaja, Uche Secondus, National Coordinator Host Communities of Nigeria (HOSTCOM) Okareme Maikpobi, Senator Bassey Henshaw, former acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, Senator Andrew Uchendu, PANDEF spokesman, Chief Obiwevbi Ominimini and a Niger Delta activist, Ms Ann-Kio Briggs.
Also in attendance were Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo (SAN), Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga and Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications Sunday Dare among other top government officials.
…Tinubu speaks
Addressing the stakeholders, President Tinubu reiterated that respect for the judiciary was crucial in upholding democracy and fostering harmony.
The president advised the leaders to be more broadminded, selfless and focused on the larger vision of salvaging the region, politically and economically, by insisting that the judiciary’s interpretations of the Constitution be respected.
“I am here by the grace of God, appreciating your support, prayers and concern. I cannot complain. I campaigned for this position and begged for the job. I must do it with all my heart, whatever it takes.
I will make sure we achieve our promises and goals. Nigeria is a great country. To some cabinet members here, from outside looking in and inside looking out, we have been doing our best to give Nigeria a re-bounce, a reset and a recalibration of the economic fortune,” Tinubu said.
…On Rivers crisis
Addressing the political crisis in Rivers state, the president said: “Yes, Niger Delta is the goose that lays the golden egg. We must care for the goose; otherwise, we lose the golden egg. I got your signal and your concern, particularly on Rivers State. I have been on the issue for quite some time. I foresaw the crisis festering for too long before I intervened. We reached an agreement, written agreement, and both parties signed.”
The president said stakeholders must make sacrifices for the state to move forward by recognising the Constitution.
“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,” he said.
President Tinubu told the delegation that his priority remains community development, particularly projects and programmes that positively impact citizens.
“Go back home and take charge of peace. 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,” the president said.
…Lauds NNDC leadership
Commending the leadership of the Niger Delta, he said: “I have seen what you have tolerated in the region.
Community development is very close to my heart. The leader of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, is doing a great job and should be encouraged to do more.
“He is your son. We are all proud of him. Yes, there are lots of misadventure(s) around Nigeria on democracy. We will continue to work on preserving the integrity and character of our legislators.
“I sincerely thank you for bringing up those issues and for doing what you are doing for the country. Nigeria is too big for anyone. And greater than anyone. It is so great. That greatness must come from us through our determination, perseverance and endurance to do all we can to improve it.”
President Tinubu thanked the delegation for acknowledging the efforts to stimulate the economy for more sustainable and predictable growth.
“We cannot achieve Eldorado in one day. But we are on the path to it. We will succeed by the grace of God Almighty. We are resetting the economy, and it looks far better. We have funds for our children in college. Our medical colleges are also getting equipped,” he said.
President Tinubu said that the ongoing coastal road project will create new economic benefits for the Niger Delta and the country.
“We are already working with international companies to build ports in the Niger Delta States,” he said.
…PANDEF leadership remarks
Speaking earlier, the Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass Kingdom and Co-Chairman of the PANDEF Board of Trustees, King Diete-Spiff, thanked the president for his commitment to South-South well-being and appointments given to Niger Delta indigenes.
“Your government has taken the bull by the horns, and we are sure you will succeed. We are here to give you our assurance and support. I can say now that God bless Nigeria and your government,” he said.
Also speaking, a former governor of Akwa Ibom and co-chair PANDEF BoT, Obong Victor Attah, called for further intervention in the Rivers state crisis.
Attah said: “Instability there has far-reaching consequences on the peace and stability of the nation,” he said.
Attah praised the president’s reforms, including power devolution and regional development recognition, and urged focus on infrastructure, seaports, environmental sustainability, and fiscal federalism in the South-South.
…Ex-Rivers gov Odili for probe
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, in a landmark ruling Monday, dismissed appeals filed by the Attorney General of Rivers state and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly against the leave granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by the Court of Appeal to contest an order of perpetual injunction of Federal High Court, Port Harcourt that barred the Commission from investigating Dr. Peter Odili’s tenure as governor of the state.
In 2007, Odili obtained a perpetual injunction at a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, restraining the EFCC from investigating or arresting him.
Also, the court order restrained the anti-graft agency from probing the finances of the Rivers State government under Odili.
However, a press statement by the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, Tuesday in Abuja, said the dismissal by a five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice John Okoro, effectively cleared the pathway for the Commission to investigate Odili’s eight-year rule of the oil-rich state and brought to an end EFCC’s long-standing legal battle to probe the administration.
“The legal dispute took off in 2007 when Odili, who served as Rivers State governor from 1999 to 2007, obtained an order of perpetual injunction from the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt barring the EFCC from investigating, arresting, or prosecuting Odili, as well as prohibiting the anti-graft agency from examining the finances of the Rivers State Government during his tenure.
“Though the EFCC has contested the injunction since 2008, the order has effectively shielded Odili from any scrutiny by the Commission for nearly two decades.
“In 2018, the Court of Appeal granted the EFCC’s request for leave to appeal the Federal High Court’s decision, which prompted the Attorney General of Rivers State and the Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly to file separate appeals at the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the appellate court’s decision,” the statement read in part.
According to Oyewale, “On March 10, 2025, the Supreme Court convened to hear the appeal filed by the litigants, marked SC/CV/318/2018. During the proceedings, Justice Okoro questioned the substance of the case, noting that the appeal was interlocutory in nature.
“The litigant’s lawyer, S. A. Somiari, SAN, argued that the appeal challenged the leave granted by the Court of Appeal for the EFCC to appeal the 2007 injunction.
“Justice Okoro, however, interjected, stating, “This is not the type of appeal we hear here,” and advised the parties to return to the Court of Appeal to have the substantive appeal heard before approaching the Supreme Court.”
He said Somari, recognising the court’s position, applied to withdraw the appeal while the EFCC’s legal team, led by Abubakar Mahmud (SAN), alongside Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), and B. O. Obialo, did not oppose the withdrawal.
The spokesperson further quoted Justice Okoro as saying: “The appeal is dismissed, having been withdrawn without any objection.”
“A similar appeal, marked SC/CV/447/2018, filed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly was dismissed on the same ground,” he added.