The claims made by Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister, deeply offended Edwin Clark, a well-known politician in Rivers State whose participation dates back to before independence.
The fact that Wike, who was born after notable historical events in Nigeria, would call revered men like Clark an intruder for challenging Wike's political authority in Rivers State, Clark thought, was extremely offensive and outrageous.
Nigerian Tribune reported that Clark, who claimed that Wike had hidden agendas for endorsing Sim Fubara's candidacy for governor, urged Wike to drop his accusations against the governor.
He said that Wike supported Fubara in order to guarantee the governor's immunity and protect himself from any interrogation by organizations like the EFCC, with Fubara acting as a go-between.
He asked Wike to focus on the problems facing Rivers State and to stop bringing up the sponsorship of Fubara.
He urged Wike to put more effort into resolving the issues that the public has, instead of using divisive language, and stressed the need for accountability and openness in government.
He asserted, "It is indeed very provocative and insulting that Mr. Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister who is the mastermind of the issues bedevilling Rivers State and who was born on the 13th of December 1967 after these two events, should accuse his fathers and leaders like me of being interlopers, daring to challenge his leadership of Rivers State politics."
”Nyesom Wike should therefore stop making noise about the sponsorship of Sim Fubara."
"He knew the reasons he supported Sim Fubara to become the governor of Rivers State to automatically center immunity on the governor, so therefore he will not be available for questioning as a prosecution witness by the EFCC against Mr. Nyesom Wike.”