In this interview on Channels Television?s Morning Brief, the National Chairman of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows Igali, speaks on the crisis rocking Rivers State as well as the recent Supreme Court judgement regarding the state, among other issues.

Excerpts:

What do you make of Governor Siminalayi Fubara?s response to the recent Supreme Court decision on Rivers State?

The state is calm. This (the judgment) had long been expected. As a party, we did ask that the rule of law must be respected and that the rule of the law guarantees stability, peace, and development.

I don?t want to bore you with the challenges we had as a result of some of the overreaching decisions taken by the executive arm of the government in the state in trying to stop another arm of government, particularly the River Status Assembly under Martins Amaewhule. All that has now been put behind us as the Supreme Court had rightly intervened as it is expected.

So the state is happy, the citizens are calm, everybody is happy. Now we believe that the development of the state will be put forward and then we are happy to hear that the governor is going to implement without reservations, the decisions of the Supreme Court. That will help us continue our development in the state.

What would be your initial reaction to the governor?s response to this particular issue?

From the point of view of the Pan Delta Forum, the apex sociopolitical body in the South-South, we joint the governor to call for calm, particularly among our young people. Many people were surprised at the judgment, but then the Supreme Court has exercised its constitutional responsibilities. As a neutral arbiter, we will call all parties to observe the laws so that there can be amicable settlement of these issues. You?ve not asked me, but let me mention that PANDEF has been on the issue of peace outside the court process and when the opportunity comes, I?ll elaborate further on that.

What are you looking to get?

There?s a lot of dependence on federal allocations to run the whole process of governance, particularly social services, and we know that it?s not the first time it has happened in terms of judicial pronouncements in Nigeria, but we know that the Supreme Court has always been very careful.

It Is in extreme cases that issues of withholding of allocations have been ruled upon. That is because it has a lot of implication as it affects the livelihood of the ordinary citizens. It could create a situation where the particular sub-national is not able to perform its duties and could create social upheaval, as hospitals need all forms of medication, even newborn babies need to be taken care of.

All the vulnerable need to be cared for, our schools, public sanitation and services. So anything that with-hold financial resources that goes to the states is a very serious matter, and we felt worried. There were a lot of calls and a lot of request on that, hence our appeal to the Supreme Court that when the opportunity creates itself, to look at this matter again.

If we look at the history of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, there have been cases where the court has had to look back, and regurgitate on some of its decisions, particularly where the overall social impact is pervasive and it is punitive.

River State is a very important state, being in the heart, we consider the capital of the South-South, and it is that of the oil belt which contributes significantly to the national income. Therefore, anything that creates social upheaval in Rivers State is of concern. That was the basis of our appeal, for some reversal and consideration of the matter.

What would you expect the governor to do as far as this issue is concerned?

I am from Bayelsa, but I?m also the leader of the Pan Delta Forum which is the apex body of the people of the Delta, and one of our main concerns is peace and s?ability in the region, li?e similar bodies such as Arewa, Ohanaeze Ndigbo or Afenifere. Under that platform, we?ve been working on the issue of peace. We are dispassionate, we don?t take sides on this matter. Our interest is to see that peace returns to River State.

Issues come up all over Nigeria and organisations like this come in to mediate, to arbitrate and to make peace. We have a committee of mediation, a committee of what we call peace and reconciliation in the Niger Delta led by seven very senior people, made up of seven senior people led by Obong Victor Attah, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, and the rest are three former governors and some very ranking politicians.

Let me mention they?ve achieved a lot of milestones. We?ve met with all the two sides and meetings are going on. We are hoping that by the end of the day, despite the judicial processes, we?ll have an amicable solution that will please everybody.

We all grew up in Port Harcourt and River State is very critical. We are the same people. We will always meet after the judgments of courts and all the court processes, and that?s why PANDEF is the leading body. (Channels TV)

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