Elder statesman and Niger Delta leader, Edwin Clark, has called for the immediate arrest of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over his recent threat to instigate crises in some states.
Clark made this call on Thursday during a press conference at his Abuja residence.
He urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to promptly arrest the former Rivers State governor over his threat to “ignite unrest” in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) states if their governors transfer the party’s structure to Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
Wike made the threat while addressing party members loyal to him in Port Harcourt.
He said: “Some governors say they will take the structure from us and give it to someone else. I hear they’ve assured them they’ll take the party from us.
“I pity those governors because I will set their states on fire. When God gives you peace, and you say you don’t want it…
“Whether you’re in Bauchi or anywhere else, your hands will get burnt. You will never see peace again.”
Clark noted that what Wike said demonstrates his flagrant disrespect for President Bola Tinubu.
While saluting the IGP for his effort to make the country safe, he drew his attention to the threat.
Clark told the police boss: “As your men who were in the audience would have reported directly to you, Nyesom Wike made this open threat to the other twelve PDP Governors while attending a Court barred Congress of the PDP, in Port Harcourt on Saturday 31st August 2024.
There is a High Court ruling in Port Harcourt in Suit No. PHC/2282/CS/2024, against that exercise.
“Instead of vacating that ruling through an appeal, Nyesom Wike’s group went to another court of co-ordinate jurisdiction in Abuja and got a ruling to hold the congress.
“This is a completely wrong court process and should not be allowed to stand. For as long as the first court ruling is persisting, the PDP congress held by Wike and his men remains a nullity.
“During this illegitimate PDP Congress, without caution and self-restraint, Wike openly voiced that he will ensure that the other Governors do not have peace in their states for their support for the incumbent Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminilayi Fubara, his erstwhile protege with whom he is having a running battle.”
The leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) could not imagine that the words came out from a serving minister who he maintained showed “a flagrant disrespect on the person of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who appointed him, and a threat to public peace.”
Clark, a former federal commissioner for information, added: “Even more serious is the fact that this is a violation of the laws of the country as it stands now. Wike as a lawyer should have known better.
“As one who has been in this same profession for more than 60 years, and as an elder statesman, | know that one of the greatest offenses that can be committed is to incite anarchy and threaten constituted authority of the state, as it is a sure means of inciting and causing unfavourable response in those States especially amongst the youths against the government in power either at federal or state level.
“As a matter of fact, what Wike has done is a form of treason as he is inciting his supporters and those in the other State to rise up against constituted authority.”
He said Wike had gone overboard, wondering what the police who have indicted Omowole Sowore for #EndBadGovernance are now waiting for.
Clark maintained: “What all these shows is the fact that this particular Minister, Wike, has gone overboard in his macabre dance. As we lawyers say, nobody is above the law and the law must take its course.
“If you could in the past arrest Omowole Sowore for similar or less implicating threats against public peace and public officials, if you are right now leading prosecution in law courts against people who participated in the ‘End Bad Governance’ protest, what are you waiting to act in this case of Wike?
“Remember that you are under oath to uphold the law, as the serving Inspector-General of Police, including the fact that you will not be partial.”
Clark lamented that Wike had done everything within his powers to sabotage Governor Fubara’s administration.