In a resolute bid to restore stability to the fractured political landscape of Rivers State, the Council of Traditional Rulers has formally constituted a high-powered, nine-man mediation committee. The panel has been tasked with brokering a sustainable resolution to the prevailing political impasse that has gripped the state in recent months.
The announcement was made via an official statement issued on 14 January 2026, signed by the Chairman of the Council, His Majesty, Eze Chike Amadi Worlu-Wodo, DSSRS, JP. The intervention marks a significant move by the state’s traditional institutions to exercise their moral authority in the interest of public peace and administrative continuity.
The committee is to be chaired by His Majesty, Dr Suanu T. Y. Baridam, with His Majesty, Eze Barr. Nwachukwu Nnam Obi, serving as Co-Chairman. According to the Council’s directive, the panel is mandated to engage extensively with all relevant stakeholders, including the primary actors in the current political friction, to proffer “sustainable and enduring solutions.”
The composition of the committee reflects a broad representation of the state’s traditional hierarchy. Joining the leadership are:
- His Majesty, Eze Uchechukwu Isaiah-Elikwu
- His Majesty, Eze Leslie Eke
- His Majesty, Dr Samuel Amaechi
- His Majesty, Dr Felix Otuwarikpo
- His Majesty, Eze Barr. Onyekachi Amaonwu
- HRH King Agolia Aboko
- HRH Eze Nwankwo Nwankwo
Barrister Darlington Owiriwa has been appointed to serve as the Secretary to the committee, ensuring that the deliberations and legal nuances of the mediation are meticulously documented.
Beyond the administrative formation of the panel, Eze Worlu-Wodo issued a stern but fatherly appeal to the citizenry. The Council expressed particular concern regarding the role of digital discourse in exacerbating the crisis, specifically urging social media users and political sympathisers of various factions to exercise “maximum restraint” in their public utterances.
The statement cautioned that inflammatory rhetoric serves only to escalate tensions and undermine the delicate peace-building process now underway. Residents were further exhorted to refrain from any actions physical or otherwise, capable of breaching the peace, as the Council works behind the scenes to reconcile the warring parties.
The Council of Traditional Rulers reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the unity and progress of Rivers State, positioning the traditional institution as a neutral arbiter during times of civil discord. By stepping into the fray, the monarchs aim to provide a “homegrown” solution to a crisis that has threatened the socio-economic equilibrium of the oil-rich state.
The committee is expected to commence its engagements immediately, with the hope that its recommendations will provide the necessary blueprint for a return to political normalcy.
