In an interview with Punch News, seasoned statesman and Pan-Niger Delta Forum National Leader Chief Edwin Clark discusses with ADEBAYO FOLORUNSHO-FRANCIS the reasons Nigeria should reexamine the calls for restructuring, the growing unrest in the Rivers, and the ongoing conflict between Governor Sim Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, among other matters. If not all of the problems are appropriately resolved, Nigeria cannot advance. As you remember, all of the important delegates from each area convened for our 2014 national convention. We had a fruitful discussion with Senator Godswill Akpabio, the current Senate President, who was the governor of Akwa Ibom at the time.
I believe Goodluck Jonathan was the president at the time. We took a delegation to him. While Ayo Adebanjo (Afenifere) headed the West, several of them represented the South-East. After our excellent meeting, he said he had been considering it.
Wike and Fubara (Siminalayi) acted as if they were father and son. No one was able to go meet them. Wike had so much faith in him that he appointed him accountant general to oversee state finances. That's the issue, then. The EFCC attempted several times to apprehend Wike but was prevented from doing so due to his immunity. So they made the decision to detain the general accountant and a few others. However, Wike kept the EFCC out of the room and shielded them. That seems to be the subject of a current court case.
But Wike's immunity has since ended. Thus, he might be taken into custody at any time. To be sure, he doesn't know what will happen if he permits Fubara's government to carry on. Grasping Fubara in his hands is his desire. He is curious about everyone he appointed. Since Wike desired them to remain in their positions, all of the commissioners who worked for him were kept on. While he was a minister, even his attorney general returned to his son's ministry. No single change. He can't go there right now, unless it's to Lagos.
He Said: "These are the people scattering Rivers State. As I said before, there is an existing APC executive in Rivers State, why are they not using it? Why would Wike recruit Okocha? It was because he was looking for somebody who could fight Amaechi for him. So, Wike cannot eat his cake and have it. He is the one using Fubara.