The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has urged the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), to establish an independent Truth and Reconciliation Committee as part of efforts to resolve the ongoing political crisis in the state.
The council, while endorsing President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers, described the intervention as crucial to preventing a total breakdown of law and order, a concern previously emphasized in a Supreme Court ruling.
On March 18, President Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the State House of Assembly for an initial six-month period. In their place, Vice Admiral Ibas was appointed to oversee governance and restore stability.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, NCSCN Executive Director Blessing Akinlosotu stressed that administrative measures alone would not be sufficient to resolve the deep-rooted issues fueling the crisis. He called for a reconciliation initiative that would involve respected national figures and stakeholders.
Call for a Neutral Mediation Panel
Akinlosotu proposed that the Truth and Reconciliation Committee should include former presidents, vice presidents, past Senate presidents, former Speakers of the House of Representatives, retired Chief Justices, first-class traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society representatives, and legal experts. He emphasized that the committee’s primary objective should be to:
Investigate the underlying causes of the crisis.
Identify key players and interest groups involved in the dispute.
Facilitate neutral discussions in a safe and conducive environment.
Extract verifiable facts and figures to inform recommendations.
Propose fair and actionable solutions to restore lasting peace and stability.
He further stressed that the committee must operate independently to ensure fairness and avoid political victimization, particularly against Governor Fubara and his allies.
“To ensure justice for all parties, especially those aligned with Governor Fubara, the committee must work autonomously, ensuring a level playing field where all political interests are fairly represented,” Akinlosotu stated.
The NCSCN director also appealed to President Tinubu to place the interests of Rivers State residents above partisan politics. He emphasized that Vice Admiral Ibas must act as a neutral mediator rather than taking sides in the ongoing dispute.
“The success of this emergency intervention will not be measured by political victories but by the level of peace, stability, and unity restored in Rivers State at the end of the six-month period,” Akinlosotu concluded.
This appeal comes amid heightened political tensions in the state, with many stakeholders calling for a strategic and inclusive approach to resolving the crisis
