Despite the pardon granted and national honours conferred on Ken Saro Wiwa and the other eight activists by President Bola Tinubu yesterday during his appraisal for the heroes of democracy, the Pan Niger Delta Forum has demanded the restoration of democratic governance in Rivers State.

In a statement, Godknows Igali, the regional body’s national chairman, praised President Tinubu for pardoning Ken Saro-Wiwa and other activists who were executed by the regime of then-military head of state General Sani Abacha for protesting environmental degradation on Ogoni land due to oil spillage hazards.

In addition to granting them a state pardon, the President also bestowed posthumous national honours upon them, recognising Saro-Wiwa as the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). The Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) was conferred to each of the eight, including Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine.

While PANDEF received the President’s conferment of national honours on the south-south heroes of democracy, the regional body called his attention to the current situation in Rivers State, which is being governed by a military administrator following his declaration of a state of emergency in the state of governance in the state after the removal of democratically elected officials.

It should be recalled that President Tinubu, on March 18, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Sim Fubara and his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu, as well as the House of Assembly, initially for six months. He also appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state.

As a result, PANDEF stated that the President’s decision to honour Ken Saro Wiwa and other fallen heroes of democracy while Rivers State remains ruled by military personnel is “deeply paradoxical and a troubling situation continues to unfold in the strategically important state of Rivers.”

PANDEF also insisted that “the people of Rivers State and the wider Niger Delta are being subjected to the erosion of democratic institutions and principles of good governance. This portends grave implications for our collective democratic achievements as a country.”

PANDEF therefore appealed to President Tinubu and the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, to “act without delay to restore democratic governance in Rivers State. The prolonged political crisis in the state has created an environment of instability and uncertainty that directly impacts the well-being of everyday citizens.”

The body further argued that the appeal to the Federal government reaffirms its commitment to support all genuine, collective efforts aimed at realising the foundational ideals of democracy, as it pledged to champion the urgent return of accountable, people-driven governance in Rivers State.

The statement fully reads “On this significant day, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) extends our congratulations to all Nigerians as we mark twenty-six years of an uninterrupted democratic journey. We particularly salute President Bola Tinubu, who now has the privilege of leading the nation in commemorating Democracy Day—a day that honours the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election, unjustly annulled by the then-military regime. Of note, we appreciate the state pardon granted to Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine.

“PANDEF notes that the profound meaning of this day in Nigeria’s checkered democratic history remains a poignant reminder of our bitter-sweet journey and the urgent need for genuine reflection on our present realities.

“Successive administrations at all levels, since the beginning of the Fourth Republic, including those in place at present, have made strides toward delivering the basic socio-economic dividends of democracy. Yet, it remains an arduous and sluggish journey. Of deep concern are the persistent challenges that directly confront ordinary Nigerians especially in the critical areas of access to food, security, primary healthcare, basic education and unmitigated environmental degradation of the Niger Delta.

“PANDEF notes that most troubling is the glaring contradiction between the noble ideals and enduring legacy of June 12, as symbolised by the sacrifices of past and surviving heroes and the reality of what can only be described as a creeping authoritarianism in Rivers State. While the nation rightly unites with the President to celebrate Democracy Day, a deeply paradoxical and troubling situation continues to unfold in the strategically important state of Rivers. The people of Rivers State and the wider Niger Delta are being subjected to the erosion democratic institutions and principles of good governance. This portends grave implications for our collective democratic achievements as a country.

“PANDEF, therefore, calls upon the relevant authorities, most especially, President Bola Tinubu, as the father of the nation, and the National Assembly, led by our son, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to act without delay to restore democratic governance in Rivers State. The prolonged political crisis in the state has created an environment of instability and uncertainty that directly impacts the well-being of everyday citizens.

“Additionally, we appeal to all principal political actors and their supporters in Rivers State to immediately ‘lay down their arms’ and embrace the path of peace. As people of common faith, let us be guided by the injunction in Ecclesiastes 3:8: “There is to hate and a time to love, a time for war and a time for peace.” The time for love and peace has come, in solemn honour of the memories of the heroes and martyrs of June 12.

“As the apex socio-political body in the South-South region, PANDEF reaffirms our commitment to support all genuine, collective efforts aimed at realising the foundational ideals of our democracy. Most especially, we pledge to champion the urgent return of accountable, people-driven governance in Rivers State.”