Dr. Ken Robinson, an influential Niger Delta leader, has formally accused Anabs Sara-Igbe, a fellow member of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), of slander and defamation.
In a detailed letter dated November 7, 2024, Robinson outlined a series of grievances, alleging that Sara-Igbe has repeatedly sought to damage his reputation within PANDEF.
Robinson, the immediate past National Publicity Secretary, sent the letter to Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, PANDEF’s national leader, requesting his intervention.
Robinson highlighted his dedication to PANDEF and the Niger Delta cause, dating back to 2007.
He recounted instances in which he felt unfairly excluded from key events, including a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 and a Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) meeting in 2018.
He claimed that, despite being a longstanding and loyal member, he has often been sidelined due to internal rivalries.
“I have not been treated fairly, particularly in recent years,” he wrote, calling out the behavior of certain figures within the organization.
The recent conflict between Robinson and Sara-Igbe appears to have intensified on October 24, 2024, during a PANDEF gathering in Port Harcourt.
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Robinson alleged that Sara-Igbe made defamatory statements about him in the presence of numerous Niger Delta leaders, including former governors, traditional rulers, and other high-ranking officials.
Among Sara-Igbe’s accusations was a claim that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara would cut ties with PANDEF if Robinson were appointed National Secretary. Robinson asserted that Governor Fubara has since hinted otherwise in his remarks.
Robinson also refuted Sara-Igbe’s accusation that he created a “parallel” PANDEF structure in Rivers State to undermine the late Alabo Graham-Douglas, a respected PANDEF leader.
Robinson urged Chief Clark to consider his years of dedicated service in evaluating the validity of these allegations. “I have consistently upheld integrity,” Robinson stated, denying any intent to disrupt PANDEF’s unity.
Sara-Igbe further alleged that former Governor Nyesom Wike paid Robinson to secure information from meetings critical of Wike’s gubernatorial aspirations in 2014. Robinson strongly denied this, arguing that the accusation has subjected him to public ridicule.
“The intent behind the statement was to malign and defame my reputation,” Robinson insisted, emphasizing the baselessness of the claim.
In his letter, Robinson expressed frustration that PANDEF leadership has yet to address these accusations or clarify his pending appointment as National Secretary.
He noted the impact of Sara-Igbe’s actions on his public image, stating, “The impression it has left on the minds of those present remains significant.”
Robinson pointed out that Sara-Igbe had previously been removed as PANDEF’s Publicity Secretary due to behavior Robinson described as “contradictory and self-serving.”
Robinson claimed that Sara-Igbe continued to hold a position as Chair of a separate “South-South Elders Forum,” where his statements often conflicted with PANDEF’s stance, causing embarrassment.
In closing, Robinson stated his decision to take legal action against Sara-Igbe after consulting family and friends.
“I cannot allow self-centered bigots like Anabs Sara-Igbe to continue maligning people,” he wrote, stating that legal action was necessary to safeguard his reputation for future generations.
He expressed his hope that Chief Clark, known for fighting injustice, would not tolerate such actions within PANDEF.
Robinson sent copies of the letter to key figures within PANDEF and Niger Delta leaders, including former Governors Alfred Diete-Spiff and Rufus Ada George.
PANDEF has yet to issue an official response, but this incident has sparked renewed discussions on internal conflicts and accountability within Niger Delta leadership circles.
