1 week ago
6
.Says FCT minister’s factional PDP congress in Rivers a nullity
. ’I’m out of active politics but can’t keep silent on anything that affects Rivers, Nigeria’
By Tunde Opalana
Ijaw nationalist and leader of the Pan- Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to as a matter of urgency issue a warrant of arrest to rein in the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike.
He said Wike should be arrested and charged with treason for openly threatening to cause chaos in states under democratically elected governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to Clark, the former governor of Rivers State by his recent threat against PDP governors has breached the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which he swore to uphold as a serving minister of the Federal Republic.
He said Wike’s comments and actions against a democratically elected governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, may spark avoidable crisis in the Niger Delta which may result in devastating consequences on the economy of the entire nation.
The First Republic Information minister in another open letter to the Inspector General of Police on the Rivers State political debacle, said it is high time for Wike to be arrested to avert serious crisis in the state, Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large.
Addressing a press conference at his Abuja residence on Thursday, Chief Clark said the passionate appeal to the police boss as contained in the letter was warranted by an open threat to twelve PDP Governors while attending a Congress of the PDP, in Port Harcourt on Saturday 31st August, 2024.
He even described the Congress held by Wike’s faction as a nullity, stressing that “there is a High Court ruling in Port Harcourt in Suit No. PHC/2282/CS/2024, against that exercise. Instead of vacating that ruling through an appeal, Nyesom Wike’ s group went to another court of coordinate jurisdiction in Abuja, and got a ruling to hold the congress.
“This is a completely wrong court process and should not be allowed to stand. For as long as the first court ruling is persisting, the PDP congress held by Wike and his men remains a nullity.”
Emphasising on the comments made by the FCT minister, Clark said: “During this illegitimate PDP Congress, without caution and self-restraint, Wike openly voiced that he will ensure that the other Governors do not have peace in their states for their support for the incumbent Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminilayi Fubara, his erstwhile protege with whom he is having a running battle.
“In his words now trending in Nigeria just in case your men did not inform you “Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of PDP from us. But let me tell people, I hear some Governors who say they will take over the structure and give it to somebody. I pity those Governors because I will put fire in their states.
“After many attacks, he continued, “Whether you are from Bauchi, I don’t give a damn, whichever state you are from, as far as I know, that you are trying to put your hand in Rivers State, your hand will get burnt and you will never sleep in your state”.
The 97 years old elder statesman expressed shock that a public officer who is an appointee of a serving President can descend to this level.
On why Egbetokun should issue a warrant of arrest on Wike, Chief Clark said: “To imagine that these words came out from a serving Minister is most unbecoming and indeed a flagrant disrespect on the person of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who appointed him, and a threat to public peace.
“Even more serious is the fact that this is a violation of the laws of the country as it stands now. Wike as a lawyer should have known better. As one who has been in this same profession for more than 60 years, and as an elder statesman, | know that one of the greatest offenses that can be committed is to incite anarchy and threaten constituted authority of the state, as it is a sure means of inciting and causing unfavourable response in those States especially amongst the youths against the government in power either at federal or state level.
“As a matter of fact, what Wike has done is a form of treason as he is inciting his supporters and those in the other State to rise up against constituted authority.
“Let me also remind you that the laws of this country, especially the Public Officer Protection Act (1957), provides protection for public officers from harm, intimidation and violence. Furthermore, Assault on Public Officers (Prohibition Act of 1985), again details clear penalties for those who directly threaten public officers. Also, the Violence Against Persons (Protection Act 2015) shuns violence, including physical harm or as in instant case, “putting fire against public officers”. Not the least is the Police Act of 2020 which mandates your force to protect public officers, maintain law and prevent crime all over the country.
“What all these shows is the fact that this particular Minister, Wike, has gone overboard in his macabre dance. As we lawyers say, nobody is above the law and the law must take its course. If you could in the past arrest Omowole Sowore for similar or less implicating threats against public peace and public officials, if you are right now leading prosecution in law courts against people who participated in “End Bad Governance” protest, what are you waiting to act in this case of Wike?
“Remember that you are under oath to uphold the law, as the serving inspector-General of Police, including the fact that you will not be partial. !am sure your PhD degree in Peace and Security Studies at Al-Hikma University in Kwara State which you earned and defended has also taught you clearly that no citizen of the country has the right to threaten the peace of the country and be treated with kid gloves.”
He faulted Wike’s claim to holding the political structure of the PDP in Rivers State which he vowed to protect with all that he has including descent into attack on democratically elected state governors and threatening to put fire in their states.
“For Wike to tell his supporters that no one will take “their structure, not while they live”, is a deep-rooted incitement capable of causing anarchy,” he said.
Counselling the IGP on the consequences of Wike’s action, Clark said: “Let me advise you that the Rivers State is too strategic to be left in a chaotic state. As the oil headquarters of the country, this continued state of threat to peace, including the fact that your men have taken over all the Local Government Area Headquarters constitutes a threat to peace and security in the entire Niger Delta.
READ ALSO: NEC to Govs: Submit report on state Police by Sept 9
“Even more is the fact the same Minister of FCT whose interest your men are protecting has gone beyond Rivers State in now threatening every other State with PDP at the helm of affairs.
“Nigerians demand nothing of you but to arrest this man and get him to retract his open threat of anarchy. You have no other choice than to re-examine your conscience.”
Chief Clark used the avenue to state that he remains apolitical after vacating active politics years back.
He, however, said he will not keep silent on issues affecting the nation as a whole or those affecting his Niger Delta region.
He said: “Though I am no more playing active politics, but I can’t keep silent on anything that affects the nation. What I am saying is outside politics. This issue affects Rivers State, it affects the Niger Delta region and it affects Nigeria.
“At 97, going to 98, I will continue to talk. I fear nobody. Wike has committed treasonable offence and should be arrested”.
English (US) ·