The Ijaw leader and former federal commissioner, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark has warmed of looming danger in Rivers state if the political crisis rocking the state is not addressed immediately.
This is coming on the heels of Tuesday, May 7, prodding by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Tony Okocha, on Speaker Martins Amaewhule led the State Assembly said to be loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to commence impeachment moves against governor Siminalaye Fubara.
In an open letter to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Clark urged the IGP to step into the matter to forestall anarchy in the oil – rich state by stopping the members of the House of Assembly from parading themselves as lawmakers.
He explained that under section 109 (1g) 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, the 27 lawmakers ceased to be members of the Rivers State Assembly following their announced defection to the APC.
The cited portion reads: “Being a person whose election to the House of Assembly was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected; 2, The Speaker of the House of Assembly shall give effect to subsection (1) of this section, so however that the Speaker or a member shall first present evidence satisfactory to the House that any of the provisions of that subsection has become applicable in respect of the members.”
The former national commissioner stated: “I have decided to address this letter to you as a senior citizen and Elder Statesman and I have served my country for over 70 years and I will be 97 on the 25th of May. It is therefore my duty to pray to the almighty God at all times for the peace and stability of our great country. We owe it as an obligation to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government which will be one year on the 29th of May.
“We must therefore condemn and prevent any action by any individual or group of individuals that would threaten the peace, stability, and unity of this country.
“We have no other country to go to if there is any uncontrollable crisis in the country and this is the main reason why I have been involved in the looming crisis in Rivers State between the former Governor Barr Nyesom Wike who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the current Governor, His Excellency, Siminalaye Fubara which is spreading like wildfire and every attempt by Mr President to resolve it amicably has not succeeded.
“The recent unprovoked announcement by the Speaker and 26 former Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly might cause a breakdown of law and order in Rivers State and the consequences of such crisis will not only affect Rivers state politically, socially and economically but will also affect the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large. We have enough of such crises of all dimensions in nearly all parts of this country already and we therefore prevent any more of such crisis.
“I had earlier advised and appealed to our President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call his Minister Nyesom Wike to order to avoid this looming crisis and that the interest of the entire country should supersede the interest of an individual or a small group of people otherwise the consequences will be disastrous.
“It is in this spirit I am addressing this letter to you as the Inspector General of Police who is in charge of the peace and stability of this country. You are therefore fully aware of the dangerous precarious situation we are facing today in this country whereby the people are no longer safe to move around, to go to their farms to feed themselves; I seriously warn that if the sanctity of the country’s constitution is not obeyed by its citizens, the consequences that will follow will be anarchy.
“The 27 former Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have automatically forfeited their seats in accordance with section 109 (1g) 2 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, which states; “g, being a person whose election to the House of Assembly was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another part before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected; 2, The Speaker of the House of Assembly shall give effect to subsection (1) of this section, so however that the Speaker or a member shall first present evidence satisfactory to the House that any of the provisions of that subsection has become applicable in respect of the member.”
“Above all, section 1 of our Supreme Law i.e. the constitution states, “Sub1, this Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on all authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
He therefore urged the Police IG to the Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from parading themselves and issuing provocative statements to intimidate and increase tension in Rivers State which may one day burst into open conflagration.
He added: “You also have to protect the constitution of Nigeria without which there will be no Nigeria.
“Mr Inspector General of Police, it is even more disturbing that these former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly are carrying out their illegal activities under the cover of policemen in uniform on whom rest a primary duty to enforce the law. This must be very disturbing to you as it is to all responsible Nigerians.
“Finally, I sincerely appeal to you to use your office as head of the Law enforcement arm of the country to advise Mr President and other members of the National Security Council of which you are the centre, to bring this show of shame to an end and spare Nigeria from being a laughing stock to the entire world.
“This is more so as Mr President and all of you swore to protect and defend the constitution of Nigeria, which now appears to be overlooked despite the glaring infringement being openly carried out in favour of one individual and his followers.”
Meanwhile, forces allegedly being championed by the leadership of the APC in Rivers State have prodded the 27 members of the State House of Assembly loyal to Nyesom Wike, to immediately kick – start the process that would lead to the impeachment of Governor Fubara.
The State APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tony Okocha, made the call on Tuesday during a news briefing in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Okocha alleged that the Governor has continued to disrespect President Bola Tinubu by refusing to implement all the eight-point peace agreement reached in Abuja on the political crisis in the state, to which he appended his signature.
He further stated, “A state as crucial and all-important as Rivers State churned out a dunderhead. We cannot accept that. Our charge to the Assembly is to immediately commence an impeachment process against the Governor.
“And if they don’t do that there is what they call party discipline. We shall invoke the relevant section of the constitution.”
