ABUJA – The Nigeria Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Council Worldwide (NENYLCW) has appealed to prominent leaders from the South-South geopolitical zone to urgently intervene in the ongoing rift between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akoti-Uduaghan.
The council expressed deep concern over the protracted conflict, warning that it threatens regional harmony and undermines effective governance in the oil-rich region.
In a statement signed by its leadership, the group emphasised that legal actions alone cannot guarantee peace, urging respected elder statesmen and institutions to broker reconciliation. They specifically called on former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Akwa Ibom Governor Obong Victor Attah, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, and the Pan Niger Delta Development Forum (PANDEF) to facilitate dialogue between the warring parties.
“The controversy has lingered for months, and we feel it is time for South-South leaders to step in and resolve this matter amicably,” the statement read.
The group highlighted that Senator Natasha’s ongoing suspension from the Senate has deprived her Kogi West constituents of robust representation.
“The few months she spent in the Senate left indelible marks, but regrettably, her constituents are no longer enjoying quality representation owing to her suspension,” the council stated.
NENYLCW, led by President General Comrade Terry Obieh and four other national executives, stressed the need for a peaceful resolution, describing the dispute as a familial disagreement that once united both parties.
“This is a dispute between two families that used to dine and wine together. We remain optimistic that this broken fence can still be mended through the intervention of respected leaders,” the group said.
They warned that the escalating tensions could destabilise the broader political landscape in the South-South, adding that dialogue and compromise are essential to restoring harmony.
“We urge both the Distinguished Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha to give peace a chance. What is important now is for peace and harmony to be restored,” the statement concluded.
