• urges him to act, call to order “illegal lawmakers”
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, has sounded the alarm over the escalating political crisis in Rivers State, warning of imminent danger if the situation is not brought under control.
He said the urgent appeal to the IG highlights the need for swift action to prevent the crisis from spiraling out of control and potentially destabilizing the entire country.
Clark, who is also Leader Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), in an open letter to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, urged him to step in to prevent anarchy in the state by stopping the members of the House of Assembly from parading themselves as lawmakers.
The former national Commissioner under Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s government, recalled that the crisis stemmed from the impeachment threat on Governor Siminalayi Fubara by Speaker Martins Amaewhule-led State Assembly, said to be loyal to Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Clark emphasized that by virtue of 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 decamping to the All Progressives Congress.
Clark, a Senator of the 2nd Republic, expressed his deep concern over the situation, stating that it poses a significant threat to the peace, stability, and unity of the country.
He warned that 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, with far-reaching consequences for the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.
Clark urged the IG to take immediate action to prevent the situation from escalating further, emphasizing that the sanctity of the country’s constitution must be upheld. He reminded the IG that 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, and that they should not be allowed to continue parading themselves as lawmakers.
The elder statesman also expressed his disappointment that these 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 IG 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 that 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.
Clark 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, Siminalayi Fubara which is spreading like wildfire and every attempt by Mr President to resolve it amicably has not succeeded”, he said.
He warned, “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 crisis of all dimensions in nearly all parts of this country already and we therefore prevent anymore 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”.
Clark, therefore, urged the IGP to call to order 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 stressed, “You also have a duty 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 center, 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 favor of one individual and his followers.”