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By Wilson Macaulay,
Port Harcourt.
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has formally commenced a high-level mediation process aimed at resolving the lingering political crisis in Rivers State, with a strong appeal to key actors to embrace sacrifice, humility and forgiveness in the interest of peace and sustainable development.
Opening the reconciliation process in Port Harcourt on Monday, PANDEF made it clear that political ambition must never be allowed to override the collective destiny of the people. The forum stressed that leadership carries not only political responsibility but also moral and spiritual accountability.
The Chairman of the PANDEF Peace and Reconciliation Committee and former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Godwin Agabi, SAN, set the tone for the engagement with a solemn reflection, reminding political leaders that they are ultimately accountable to God, history and the conscience of the people.
“No society survives when pride replaces wisdom or when power silences conscience. Rivers State deserves leaders who can forgive, reconcile and rebuild. Peace is not weakness; it is the highest expression of leadership,”Agabi said.
He warned that unresolved political conflicts have far-reaching consequences, including the erosion of institutions, deepening of social divisions and prolonged instability.
According to him, peace should not be viewed merely as a political agreement but as a moral covenant between leaders and the citizens they serve.
PANDEF noted that the Rivers crisis has evolved beyond conventional political and legal disputes, taking on dimensions that demand ethical introspection and moral renewal.
The forum therefore called on all stakeholders,particularly the major political actors,to make genuine sacrifices for the sake of unity and future generations.
“When leaders choose peace, they write the most powerful chapter of their legacy. “When they choose pride, they mortgage tomorrow,”the committee declared.
Our correspondent reports that the mediation session drew broad participation from traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society groups, women organisations and youth representatives, all of whom echoed PANDEF’s message.
They emphasized that the state’s development, security and economic prosperity are inseparable from political stability and inclusive leadership.
Several speakers underscored the need for restraint, sincere dialogue and mutual respect, urging political leaders to subordinate personal interests to the collective good of Rivers State.
They maintained that no individual ambition is greater than the peace and progress of the state.
Observers described PANDEF’s intervention as a potentially defining moment in Rivers State’s political journey, noting that the committee’s behind-the-scenes engagements are focused on rebuilding trust, healing fractured relationships and laying the foundation for enduring stability.
At the close of the session, the committee reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the peace process until meaningful reconciliation is achieved, Ireminding all parties that true leadership is not measured by how power is acquired, but by how peace is preserved.
As Rivers State stands at a critical crossroads, PANDEF’s message rings with clarity and urgency: humility remains the pathway to healing, forgiveness the key to freedom, and peace the surest foundation for lasting development.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
