PANDEF Hails Tinubu for Releasing Rivers State Allocation Despite Recent Court Order

* Fubara is silent achiever, says LG boss

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja and Blessing Ibung in Port Harcourt

A South-south socio-political body, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), has commended the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government for not withholding the statutory allocation due to Rivers State, despite a recent court ruling.

National Chairman of PANDEF, Ambassador Godknows Igali, gave the commendation in a statement by the group’s spokesperson, Dr. Obiuwevbi Ominimini, yesterday in Abuja
Igali expressed delight that Tinubu “took such a state manly decision, which is a relief not only to the people of Rivers State but all of Nigeria.”

He stated further that this decision would ensure that the innocent citizens of Rivers State did not suffer vicariously from the family feud between some of the political leaders of the state.
He further expressed the hope that the decision would further aid the efforts by the Obong Victor Attah-led High level Peace and Reconciliation Committee recently constituted by PANDEF.

Igali again called on all political actors and leaders in Rivers State as well as youth and women groups to sheathe their swords and follow the step taken by the federal government in de-escalating tension while the reconciliation effort by the  elders of the region is ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Chijioke Ihunwo, has described Governor Siminalayi Fubara as a silent achiever of people-oriented development in the state.

Ihunwo, an ally of Fubara made the assertion when delegates of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) visited him at the council ahead of their press week event.
He said the council leadership and the people of the LGA would defend the state from one man’s efforts to take control of the state resources at the sufferings of the indigenes and residents.

According to the OBALGA chairman, “Rivers State is too big for one man to own and that is why we are here to defend our people. Our local government has been liberated. Whatever they are doing is their business, we are not interested, what we are interested in are the people.

“You also know that his Excellency, the governor of Rivers State is a quiet and humble person. The governor is a quiet person. Everybody must not be quiet, me I am not a quiet person. We won’t allow them to intimidate us.”