Edwin Clark, the elder statesman and Ijaw leader has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the current political crisis in Rivers State.
Clark, in response to the impeachment notice served by the state governor, Siminalaye Fubura, by members of the state House of Assembly, appealed targeted explicitly to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, while urging the president to advise and caution him.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Clark said the President should caution Wike and the security agencies to avert any untold crisis in the state.
“I have been greatly disturbed by the reported developments in Rivers State in the last 24 hours. I have been reliably informed that there is a plot to unlawfully remove the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalaye Fubara, who has spent only about five months in office,” he said.
Clark claimed that the current crisis aims to remove the governor, force his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu, to resign, and install the Speaker of the House of Assembly.
“Let me warn strongly, we won’t allow that to happen,” he vowed..
He continued, “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.”
Clark emphasised that Tinubu must take urgent action to prevent the escalating crisis in the state.
The Informant247 reports that Similanyi Fubara, the Rivers State Governor, on Monday, while addressing the after a minor face-off with security operatives on his way to the state House of Assembly, vowed to resist any impeachment attempt against him that is not justified.
The Informant247 earlier gathered that an ally of the governor, Hon Edison Ehie, was on Monday removed ahead of the reported plot to impeach Governor Fubara.
Meanwhile, the governor, while addressing the crowd that had primarily youths, dared his political opponents to tell him his offence before he would be removed.
Fubara said, “I know how you people are feeling; just take it easy. Great Rivers State youths. Great! When we have the youth, we have power.”
“But the difference with our own power is we will not misuse it. We woke up this morning to a very troubling news. We have gone to the Assembly to see for ourselves what has happened.
“On my way there, I was shot at directly by the (sic) operation, or whatever they call it. But it doesn’t matter; somebody will die one day. Whether you die inside your house or on the road, so my journey today, whatever it is that wants to happen, let it happen.
“If Siminalayi Fubara is in peace, I am not a force, neither will I be…What I’m saying is that any attempt that is not justified will be resisted. Great Rivers, people! That offence that I have committed come out and tell the people of Rivers State. That’s what I want. That offence Fubara committed warrants impeaching me.”
He pledged to always defend the Rivers residents and make available dividends of democracy to them.
“But my happiness this morning is that the people of Rivers State, represented by everybody here, are with us. Let me remind you, people, that we will continue to defend you people. We will protect you people and enjoy the dividends of democracy. I don’t want to say much. At the appropriate time, I will address the press. Thank you. God bless you,” he added.
