From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, has warned of imminent danger if the situation is not brought under control.
The leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), in an open letter to Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun, highlighted the need for the police chief to act swiftly to prevent the crisis from spiralling out of control and potentially destabilising the entire country.
He urged him to step in to prevent anarchy in the state by stopping the House of Assembly members from parading themselves as lawmakers.
Clark emphasised that by virtue of Section 109 (1g) 2 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the 27 lawmakers ceased to be members of the Rivers State Assembly following their announced decamping to APC.
Clark, senator of the Second Republic, warned that the recent unprovoked announcement by the speaker and 26 former members of the House of Assembly might cause a breakdown of law and order in Rivers State, with far-reaching consequences for the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.
He urged the IGP to take immediate action to prevent the situation from escalating further, emphasising that the sanctity of the country’s constitution must be upheld. He reminded the IGP that the 27 former members of the House of Assembly have automatically forfeited their seats in accordance with Section 109 (1g) 2 of the constitution, and that they should not be allowed to continue parading themselves as lawmakers.
The elder statesman also expressed his disappointment that the former members are carrying out their illegal activities under the cover of policemen in uniform, which he described as disturbing and a threat to the rule of law.
He appealed to the IGP to use his office to advise President Bola Tinubu and other members of the National Security Council to bring the crisis to an end and spare Nigeria from international ridicule.
The Ijaw leader emphasised the importance of upholding the constitution, stating it is the supreme law of the land and that its provisions must be respected by all authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“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 May 25. 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 Tinubu’s government which will be one year on May 29.
“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 I have been involved in the looming crisis in Rivers State between the former governor Nyesom Wike who is now the minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the current Governor, Fubara, which is spreading like wildfire and every attempt by Mr. President to resolve it amicably but did not succeeded.
“The recent unprovoked announcement by the speaker and 26 former members of the House of Assembly might cause a breakdown of law and order in Rivers State and the consequences of such a 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 crises.
“I had earlier advised and appealed to President Tinubu to call his minister, 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 IGP that 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 Assembly have automatically forfeited their seats in accordance with Section 109 (1g) 2 of the 1999 Constitution 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 said.
Clark, therefore, urged the IGP to call to order the members of the Rivers Assembly from parading themselves and issuing provocative statements to intimidate and increase tension in Rivers State which may one day burst into open conflagration
“You also have a duty to protect the constitution of Nigeria without which there will be no Nigeria.
“Mr. IGP, it is even more disturbing that these former members of the Rivers 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.
“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,” he said.