Chief Edwin Clark, South-South National Leader and elder statesman on Monday warned of dire consequences should Rivers Gov. Siminalaye Fubara be impeached as being planned by some vested interests.

Clark gave the warning in a statement he issued in reaction to the setting ablaze of the Rivers House of Assembly on Sunday.

He stated that the fire incident arose from the plan to destabilise Rivers and impeach Fubara.

The elder statesman alleged that Fubara 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.

“I have been greatly disturbed by the reported developments in Rivers in the last 24 hours.

“I understand 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 as the governor.

“Let me warn strongly that we will not allow that to happen!

“The consequences would be dire for the stability of the region and for the national economy,’’ Clark charged.

He noted that Rivers people had suffered enough political crises.

“The state should not be allowed to degenerate again into its dark past; and the Niger Delta Region by extension,’’ he stated.

The elder statesman called on President Bola Tinubu to direct security agencies in Rivers to avert any untold crisis in the state.

He urged the president to act speedily to avert the unfolding crisis in Rivers in the interest of his administration and that of the nation’s democracy.

Clark warned also that vested interests should not be allowed to do whatever they liked; noting that Nigeria is a democracy and the tenets of constitutional democracy must be upheld by all.

Text of Press Briefing on the Situation in Rivers State by Chief E. K. Clark, OFR, CON

CALL FCT MINISTER, NYESOM WIKE, SECURITY AGENCIES IN RIVERS STATE TO ORDER, CHIEF E.K. CLARK TELLS PRESIDENT TINUBU

30th October 2023.

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, His Excellency, Siminalaye Fubara, who has spent only about 5 months in office.

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, Professor 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!

President Bola Tinubu must call Nyesom Wike and the security agencies in Rivers State to order, to avert any untold crisis in Rivers State.

Last night, the hallowed chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly was burnt, in what apparently is part of the plot to destabilize 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 8 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.

A WORD IS ENOUGH FOR THE WISE!

Signed:

Chief E. K. Clark, OFR, CON
National Leader, South-South/PANDEF