Rivers crisis: Clark writes IGP, warns of looming danger, anarchy
Former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has written to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, to, as a matter of urgency, wade into the crisis bedeviling Rivers State to avoid anarchy and imminent danger.
According to the elder statesman, the crisis in Rivers State stemmed from the impeachment threat on Governor Siminalayi Fubara by Speaker Martins Amaewhule-led State Assembly, said to be loyal to Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Clark, who raised the alarm over the escalating political crisis in Rivers State, said that the urgent appeal to the IGP highlights the need for swift action to prevent the crisis from spiraling out of control and potentially destabilizing the entire country.
While addressing newsmen at his Asokoro residence in Abuja on Tuesday, the Ijaw leader in an open letter to the Inspector General of Police and made available to the media him to step in to the political quagmire in Rivers State between the Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his Predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Nyesom Wike on one hand the House of Assembly on the other hand, saying that failure to nip the problem in the bud, would have a disastrous consequence.
According to the Leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, the IGP should immediately look into the threat on Governor Siminalayi Fubara by Speaker Martins Amaewhule-led State Assembly, said to be loyal to Nyesom Wike in order to prevent against anarchy in the state by stopping the members of the House of Assembly from parading themselves as lawmakers.
The Leader of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF explained that by virtue of section 109 (1g) 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, the 27 lawmakers ceased to be members of the Rivers State Assembly following their announced decamping to the All Progressives Congress.
He urged the IGP to call to order the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from parading themselves and issuing provocative statements to intimidate and increase tension in Rivers State which may one day burst into open conflagration.
Clark, a senator of the 2nd Republic who expressed his concerns over the situation, noted that it poses a significant threat to the peace, stability, and unity of the country, just as he warned that the recent unprovoked announcement by the Speaker and 26 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly might cause a breakdown of law and order in Rivers State, with far-reaching consequences for the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.
Clark urged the IG) to take immediate action to prevent the situation from escalating further, emphasizing that the sanctity of the country’s constitution must be upheld.
He reminded the IGP that the 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have automatically forfeited their seats in accordance with section 109 (1g) 2 of the constitution, and that they should not be allowed to continue parading themselves as lawmakers.
Clark’s letter read in part, “I have decided to address this letter to you as a senior citizen and Elder Statesman and I have served my country for over 70 years and I will be 97 on the 25th of May.
“It is therefore my duty to pray to the almighty God at all times for the peace and stability of our great country. We owe it as an obligation to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Government which will be one year on the 29th of May.
“We must therefore condemn and prevent any action by any individual or group of individuals that would threaten the peace, stability and unity of this country.”
