Former Federal Commissioner for Information and South South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently address the escalating crisis in Rivers State, as reported by Vanguard.
In a letter to Tinubu, Clark emphasized the need to caution Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), to allow the elected Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to govern peacefully. Clark expressed that Wike, who claims to have made Fubara governor, is not inclined towards peace.
The letter, dated June 25, 2024, and made available to journalists in Abuja, was titled "CHIEF CLARK BESEECHES PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU TO HALT THE THREATENING POLITICAL CRISIS IN RIVERS STATE." Clark, leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), warned that failing to address the crisis could result in widespread chaos, likening the situation to a banana peel that could escalate if not resolved promptly.
Clark criticized Wike’s actions, accusing him of undermining the Rivers State government by staging events that allowed him to publicly criticize and harass Governor Fubara. He argued that Wike's interference from Abuja, despite no longer being the governor, was unacceptable and called for President Tinubu to intervene.
Clark highlighted Wike’s inconsistencies, citing his contradictory statements and actions, particularly regarding the PDP primaries and his stance on becoming a minister. He asserted that Wike is not genuinely interested in peace and urged President Tinubu to caution him for the sake of Nigeria’s overall interest.
He stated, “Let the truth be told to you Mr. President, Nyesom Wike is not ready for any form of peace. Therefore, I call on you once again, to caution Mr. Wike and call him to order in the overall interest of Nigerians to allow the elected Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, whom he, Nyesom Wike, claimed he made, to govern Rivers State peacefully.
“Nyesom Wike and the 27 former members of the Assembly and the so called Chairman of the APC caretaker committee in Rivers State, Mr. Tony Okocha, have been issuing inflammatory and provocative statement harassing the Governor to the extent that he recently threatened to impeach Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State.”