Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has written to the national chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Umar Ganduje, and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Iliya Damagum, accusing them of supporting the activities of the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in Rivers, to cause political crisis.
In the letter, Clark said the party bosses are complicit in ceding the control of the Rivers State chapters of both the APC and PDP to the minister to emasculate the duly elected government of the state under Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Part of the letter read: “I know both of you are fully aware and involved in the political crisis in Rivers State which is caused by Wike who is controlling the two parties in Rivers, particularly the PDP.
“I strongly advise both of you to withdraw from the madness of politics of Rivers State to avoid the dangerous crisis facing Rivers, one of the most important states producing the resources used to sustain the economy of this country.
“I hope you do not forget that the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and the deep seaport of Onne are very well established in Rivers.
“How can the Federal Government and the two main political parties allow an individual to disrupt and cause confusion, and harassment of the democratically elected Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara on the guise that he alone and not the people of Rivers State made Fubara Governor, in his provocative and inciting statement?”
The leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum warned that Wike’s utterances are capable of breaching the peace in the south-south state, saying:
“By his statements, he made it very clear that he is at work in Rivers State to intimidate, harass, disorganise the state in order to replace Governor Fubara with the former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Martins Amaewhule, through impeachment.”
“This ugly godfatherism is no doubt eating into the fabrics of our democracy thereby affecting the quality of our leaders in the National Assembly and 36 states various House of Assembly and also affecting our choice of politician to man the various parastatals.
“Wike as the godfather of Governor Fubara wants him to worship God through him and not direct to God because he used him to install him as Governor.
“Recently, Governor Fubara in his public speech appreciated what Wike did for him to become the Governor of Rivers, but Wike wanted him to worship him but the Governor said I cannot worship human beings but God.
“Even though Wike said they will not resort to violence, through the use of guns, but his plans are more dangerous than the use of guns.
“The support given to Nyesom Wike by both party Chairmen has made him courageous enough to intimidate and anger the Rivers State Governor and Government and this is seen as an act to overthrow the duly elected Governor, which is criminal.
“Finally, I am therefore appealing to you, in the interest of peace and stability in Nigeria to disassociate yourselves from the diabolical and mischievous plan by Wike for no just cause to bring down the Government of his successor, Governor Fubara.
“I strongly advise both of you to retrace your steps and take charge of your political parties in Rivers State and not leave it for Wike who is neither PDP nor APC.”
