Elder stateman, Chief Edwin Clark urged President Bola Tinubu to call to order the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike in the attempts to impeach his successor, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
This is as the state House of Assembly elected Hon. Ehie Ogerenye Edison, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Ahoada East II, as the Speaker in place of Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, who represents Wike’s constituency, Obio-Akpor I. Edison’s first task was to suspend from their legislative duties 24 members of the 32-member House, who participated in the plot to impeach the governor.
Earlier in the day, the governor stormed the Assembly complex, following the setting of the premises on fire on Sunday night. The House members had to flee for safety as tear gas was fired outside the complex.
Clark, who is also National Leader of South-South/Pan Niger Delta Development Forum (PANDEF) described the development in Rivers State in the last 24 hours as greatly disturbing. He said he had been informed of “unlawfully remove the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Siminalaye Fubara, who has spent only about five months in office”.
In his statement on Monday, he further said: “I understand the sad episode is being orchestrated by the immediate past Governor of Rivers State and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike. And that the intention is to remove the Governor, force his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu to resign, and install the Speaker of the House of Assembly, another Ikwerre person as the governor of the state.
“Let me warn strongly, we won’t allow that to happen”!
Clark said that President Tinubu must call the FCT Minister and the security agencies in the state to order, to avert any untold crisis.
The elder statesman also said: “Last night, the hallowed chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly was burnt, in what apparently is part of the plot to destabilise the state.
“The Governor was tear-gassed and was even threatened with being shot at when he visited the Assembly complex after the incident, to assess the level of damage.
“We are not in a barbaric state where people can do whatever they like; we are in a democracy and the tenets of constitutional democracy must be upheld by all.
“Rivers people have suffered enough political crises, the state should not be allowed to degenerate again into its dark past, and the Niger Delta Region by extension. The consequences would be dire for the stability of the region and the National Economy.
“What has Governor Fubara done wrong? Refusing to be further “remote controlled”?
“Mr. Nyesom Wike was Governor for eight years, nobody hassled him. He governed Rivers State like an Emperor, he did not show any iota of respect and regard to anyone, not even those who imposed him on Rivers people in 2015.
“President Tinubu must act fast and avert the unfolding crisis in Rivers State in the interest of his administration, the nation’s democracy, and the Country at large”.
Assuming office after his election and swearing in as Speaker, Edison issued an official statement in which in said that “some members of our Assembly have fallen short of… the values of integrity, accountability, and dedication to public service”, and have been suspended from their legislative duties.
The Speaker said: Rest assured, this decision was not made lightly. We are committed to ensuring that the Rivers State House of Assembly continues to be a beacon of hope and progress for all our people. We will work tirelessly to restore your trust in our institution and fulfill the promises we made to you”.
