Awaji-Inombek Abiante, a member of the National Assembly, has spoken about the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State and the efforts to bring peace. In an interview with Channels Television, he explained that previous attempts to resolve the conflict had failed because not all parties were willing to meet.
According to him, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) had tried to mediate between the two political camps—Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s camp and that of former Governor Nyesom Wike. However, PANDEF could not meet with one side, and even the president could not convince them to join the talks. This made it difficult to find a lasting solution.
Now, Abiante believes a new peace committee should be formed, consisting of respected Nigerians. He suggested that General Abdulsalami Abubakar, a former military leader known for promoting peace, should head this team. Abdulsalami had the chance to remain in power but chose democracy instead, making him a strong figure to lead the mediation efforts.
Abiante stressed that focusing only on the legal aspects of the crisis might not end the problem, as different people interpret the law differently. He warned that if the crisis continues for too long, it could create deeper divisions among the Rivers People.
With Abdulsalami in charge of the peace process, Abiante questioned whether the political camps would still refuse to participate in discussions. He urged all parties to come together and find a solution before the situation worsens.