In a recent appeal, Chief Edwin Clark, the former Federal Commissioner for Information and a prominent leader in the South-South region, urged President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action to address the escalating crisis in Rivers State. Clark emphasized the necessity for President Tinubu to intervene by cautioning the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Nyesom Wike, to allow the elected Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to govern without interference. He stressed that Wike's reluctance to support a peaceful governance transition is contributing to the tension in the state.
In a letter dated June 25, 2024, and shared with journalists in Abuja, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) leader called on President Tinubu to act in accordance with his democratic principles to resolve the troubling situation in Rivers State. Clark highlighted the importance of immediate intervention to prevent further deterioration of the political climate, urging the President to uphold the values of democracy and honor by ensuring that Governor Fubara can lead without obstruction.
Clark, who also represents the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), warned of the severe consequences if the Rivers State crisis is not promptly addressed. He drew a parallel to the historical example of Emperor Nero, warning that inaction could lead to widespread instability. Clark described the situation as precarious and warned that without decisive action, the unrest could spread, causing significant disruption.
Additionally, Clark criticized Wike's public contradictions and inconsistencies. He pointed out that Wike had repeatedly contradicted his own statements, from his commitment to supporting the People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate during the primaries to his initial refusal to accept a ministerial position, and his harsh criticism of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Clark argued that Wike's unpredictable stance is a significant factor in the current unrest in Rivers State.
He said: Almost everything that Nyesom Wike had said in public has been repudiated by him (Nyesom Wike is indeed a man of contradiction and inconsistencies). From the PDP primaries where he vowed to support whosoever emerged as candidate, to his vow not to be minister, to his scathing excoriation of the APC which he likened to a cancerous party, everything Wike supposedly stood for have been repudiated by his fickle mindedness”.