Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has called for peaceful dialogue to resolve the political crisis in Rivers State, urging President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to establish a reconciliation committee instead of declaring a state of emergency. Chief Press Secretary Daniel Alabrah confirmed the governor’s position in a statement released after Wednesday’s Emergency Stakeholders’ Congress of the Ijaw National Congress in Yenagoa.

Alabrah reported that Governor Diri emphasized the Ijaw nation’s commitment to national unity while advocating for constitutional solutions to the Rivers crisis. “This is the time for dialogue because it is a lose-lose situation for Rivers State,” Alabrah quoted the governor as saying. “I urge Mr. President and the National Assembly to waste no time in inaugurating a committee of eminent personalities to restore peace.”

The governor’s appeal came during a gathering of prominent Ijaw leaders, including Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, traditional rulers, and former Rivers State officials. Alabrah noted that INC President Professor Benjamin Okaba supported Governor Diri’s stance, describing emergency rule as “an assault on democratic governance.”

Alabrah highlighted the governor’s warning against actions that might escalate tensions, while affirming the Ijaw people’s right to defend their dignity. Rights activist Annkio Briggs, in her keynote address, commended the unity shown in supporting Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, urging the current generation to uphold the legacy of Ijaw forebears.

The meeting concluded with unanimous support for Governor Diri’s peace initiative, with Alabrah confirming the governor has formally communicated his recommendations to federal authorities. The statement emphasized the need to respect the constitutional rights of all parties involved in the Rivers crisis.