After Meeting Tinubu, PANDEF Issues Strong Statement On Fubara vs. Assembly Showdown

Reacting on Wednesday, PANDEF chieftain Anabs Sara-Igbe, in an exclusive interview with Vanguard, described the incident as not just an insult to Fubara but to the entire people of Rivers State.

“The Governor was elected by millions of Rivers people. As the chief executive officer of the state, he has unrestricted access to all state facilities. Preventing him from entering the complex is a direct insult and embarrassment to the people of Rivers State,” Sara-Igbe said.

Tinubu’s Meeting and the Rivers Political Crisis

PANDEF’s reaction comes just hours after President Bola Tinubu held a high-level meeting with the forum’s leaders at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.

During the meeting, Tinubu urged PANDEF leaders to advise Fubara to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling. However, shortly after the meeting, pro-Wike lawmakers reportedly locked the governor out of the Assembly Complex.

Sara-Igbe denounced the lawmakers’ actions, stating that while Fubara has shown a willingness to embrace peace, his opponents remain unyielding.

“It is now very clear that the Governor wants peace, but his detractors are not ready for it. Their actions speak for themselves. How can you bar a sitting Governor from accessing a state-owned facility? Despite the insults and provocations, the Governor continues to advocate for peace. I urge him to implement all the directives outlined in the Supreme Court ruling, even though I disagree with some. Rivers people and the world are watching,” he stated.

PANDEF Warns Wike Over Impeachment Comments

Sara-Igbe also reacted to a recent remark by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who stated that impeaching Fubara would not cause a crisis, declaring that “heaven will not fall.”

The PANDEF leader warned that such inflammatory comments could escalate tensions in the Niger Delta region.

“He should remember that during late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s tenure, crude oil production dropped drastically from 2.4 million barrels per day to just 700,000 bpd until Ijaw elders and Niger Delta leaders intervened to calm militant groups like the Avengers and MEND.

“The nation’s economy is already struggling. We cannot afford disruptions to crude oil production. The Minister must be cautious with his words. While we advocate for peace, all parties must be mindful of their statements,” Sara-Igbe cautioned.