Clark urges Tinubu to intervene in Rivers political logjam

‘How insecurity affected investments, devt in Rivers’

The elder statesman and leader of the Ijaw Nation, Edwin Clark, has urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the looming political logjam in Rivers State.

This was contained in a letter he addressed to the President, which was made available to The Guardian yesterday. Clark submitted that given his age and status as a senior citizen of Nigeria, Tinubu cannot accept, on behalf of his people, any actions that undermine or violate provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended.

The letter reads in part: “That some of us have kept quiet on issues such as this is not because we are afraid to speak out, but for the respect and support we have for your office.

“I have seen a lot in politics and governance, both in Nigeria and around the world. What may seem irrelevant to you today can become a major difficulty to the government in no time. 

“As one old enough to be your father since you are only 73 years old, I advise again, let this small fire in Rivers State be quenched immediately and not allowed to conflagrate further.”    

Clark frowned on a situation where the President is giving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, the leeway to rule Rivers State from Abuja, while he is no longer the governor, and yet performing his job from Abuja undisturbed. He noted that this is unacceptable hence it will be resisted.

The elder statesman, however, commended Tinubu for his prompt action to douse the political tension in Rivers.

“The Special Adviser on Media to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, had disclosed the President’s position during an interview on TVC on Saturday, May 11, 2024.

“The crisis is, no doubt, gradually dying down if the statement is upheld by the Presidency; and it will enable us to face the security problem in other parts of the country.”

MEANWHILE, as capital flight from Rivers and Bayelsa states continues, an investor, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Housing and Construction Mayor Limited, My-ACE China, has linked the situation to insecurity in the Niger Delta region. 
 
China, a real estate investor, disclosed that some persons who work in Port Harcourt and other parts of Rivers and Bayelsa states fly back to Lagos or Abuja where they reside, while they pay taxes in such areas.

According to him, this has caused huge capital flight out of Rivers, because the investors pay taxes in Lagos or Abuja, while they make the money in Rivers and Bayelsa states.  He said that the trend began in the days of militancy and kidnapping when those persons made housing investment decisions.