Threats to PDP Governors: PANDEF Leader Edwin Clark writes IGP, seek Wike’s arrest

Elder statesman and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Edwin Clark, has called for the arrest of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), over his recent threats to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors.

In an open letter to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Clark accused Wike of making treasonable threats by vowing to “put fire” in the states of any governor who interferes in Rivers State politics.

During a press conference in Abuja, Clark expressed concern over Wike’s inflammatory remarks, stating that a minister who uses his position to insult and threaten others poses a danger to the nation.

Wike’s controversial statement was made during a factional congress in Rivers State, where he warned that any governor attempting to undermine his political influence in the state would face retaliation.

Clark urged the police to take immediate action, emphasizing that such threats are a violation of Nigerian law and should not be ignored.

The Minister was quoted to have 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.”

But Clark said Mike’s threat to the governors was a “flagrant disrespect” to President Bola Tinubu, who appointed him. Clark described the remarks as “unbridled” and suggested it could incite violence, equating them to treason.

Clark highlighted the inconsistency in the government’s response to dissent, recalling that the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AC), Omoyele Sowore, and #EndBadGovernance protesters were arrested for similar offences.

Asked why he felt Wike’s comment was treasonable, Clark emphasised his legal experience, stating, “I’ve done my homework,” and highlighted that he has consulted senior lawyers who agree that Wike’s threats represent multiple violations of public law.

“I’ve even got some senior lawyers to help me, who have now discovered that Wike has breached a number of Nigerian laws, public laws, and so on, and so has committed crimes. And for him to say that he will put fire in states belonging to PDP governors and so on, it’s treason, it’s treasonable. All of that in totality, Wike has committed treason.”

He described Wike’s comments as a “macabre dance” and warned that such rhetoric could lead to significant unrest in the region.

Clark underscored the gravity of the situation, asserting that Wike’s actions threaten the peace and stability of Rivers State and the broader Niger Delta region and urged the IGP to act swiftly to prevent further escalation of the political crisis, which he believes could have dire consequences for Nigeria as a whole. The letter read: “I want to begin by saluting your continued service to our country and that of the very many gallant officers of the Nigeria Police Force who daily stay awake to keep our nation safe. However, I want to add my voice to that of millions of Nigerians who are incensed at some recent developments in the polity which require your urgent attention.

That is with respect to the recent open threat by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who happens to be the former Governor of Rivers State to “SET FIRE” in some other States.

“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 coordinate 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, remain 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. In his words now trending in Nigeria just in case your men did not inform you “Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of PDP from us. But let me tell people, I hear some Governors who say they will take over the structure and give it to somebody. I pity those Governors because Inwill put fire in their States”, After many attacks, he continued “Whether you are from Bauchi, I don’t give a damn, whichever state you are from, as far as I know, that you are trying to put your hand in Rivers State, your hand will get burnt and you will never sleep in your State.

“My dear IG, at well over 97 years of age, and having held various positions in government including being a Minister over 50 years ago, I am shocked that a public officer who is an appointee of a serving President can descend to this level. When we worked under Gen. Yakubu Gowon, GCFR, in the Federal Executive Council, the code of conduct which we were expected to keep especially as it pertained to being instruments of public order was at the highest level. No wonder three of my cabinet colleagues, Gen. Murtala Mohammed, Alh. Shehu Shagari, Olusegun Obasanjo all went on to become Heads of State and Presidents of Nigeria while the rest of us continued serving the country at the Senate or as Governors in our various States. It may seem light to some, but to imagine that these words came out from a serving Minister, is most unbecoming and indeed a flagrant disrespect on the person of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who appointed him, and a threat to public peace.

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.

Let me also remind you that the laws of this country, especially the Public Officer Protection Act (1957), provides protection for public officers from harm, intimidation and violence. Furthermore, Assault on Public Officers (Prohibition Act of 1985), again details clear penalties for those who directly threaten public officers. Also, the Violence Against Persons (Protection Act 2015) shuns violence, including physical harm or as in instant case, “putting fire against public officers”. Not the least is the Police Act of 2020 which mandates your force to protect public officers, maintain law and prevent crime all over the country.

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 “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. !I am sure your PhD degree in Peace and Security Studies at Al-Hikmah University in Kwara State which you earned and defended has also taught you clearly that no citizen of the country has the right to threaten the peace of the country and be treated with kid gloves.

| want to deviate a bit to perhaps educate you on the so-called “structure” Wike has been insisting on holding on to. Today, you are the inheritor of a “structure” which goes back to Louis Edet, the first indigenous Inspector General of Police of the country. Since then, there have been 21 Inspectors General of Police. You are the 224, How many of these 21 come daily to intervene in your work, claiming that it is their structure? Similarly, virtually all the former governors of the 36 states are either ministers or serving senators. How will the country be if they are all talking about structures which they left behind and threatening to “put fires” if those structures are inherited by their successors or the incumbents.

In the River State itself, the truth is that structures have existed, and in order to grasp this issue, there is need to go back a bit into history. Rivers State was created on 27* May, 1967, as one of the first twelve States created when the nation moved ae eeenism with four Regions, (Eastern, Northern, Western and, in no particular order, to Statism, before Wike was born on 15” December, 1967. Incidentally, the man who muted the idea of state creation in the country to the then Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, was a Rivers State man, the late Pere Harold Dapp-Biriye. Until his death, he was the leader of the Niger Delta Region, and | was his deputy. Today, by the grace of God, I am the leader, in addition to my other roles in the country.

Pere Dappa-Biriye did not hang his life on Rivers State because he muted the idea for its creation; he did not claim the political structure. In addition, some of the other original owners of the structures in the State are still alive. Having himself benefitted from late Chief Melford Okilo, Second Republic Governor, as Secretary to State Government, the oldest serving Governor is Chief Rufus Ada George who held sway from 1992 to 1993, during which Sir Peter Odili was his Deputy Governor. Odili inherited this structure and served as Governor from 1999 to 2007. Upon completion of his mandate, he handed over the same structure to Chief Chibuike Amaechi who served as Governor from 2007 to 2015. Thereafter, this same structure was handed over to Barr. Wike. It may interest you to note that it was during this process that the present Minister of FCT who was a young lawyer and struggling to make a living in our motor parks showed great efficiency in managing the motor parks in his Local Government. So, he was recommended by then serving Senator John Mbata to be made a Local Government Chairman during the tenure of Odili. Thereafter, he served Amaechi as Chief of Staff before the same Amaechi recommended him to Johnathan to be made Minister.

The question | want to ask if all the persons | mentioned come to claim to own the structure, where would we be as a country and where would be Rivers State? For Wike to tell his supporters that no one will take “their structure, not while they live”, is a deep-rooted incitement capable of causing anarchy.

Let me advise you that River State is too strategic to be left in a chaotic state. As the oil headquarters of the country, this continued state of threat to peace, including the fact that your men have taken over all the Local Government Area Headquarters constitutes a threat to peace and security in the entire Niger Delta. Even more is the fact the same Minister of FCT whose interest your men are protecting has gone beyond Rivers State in now threatening every other State with PDP at the helm of affairs.

Nigerians demand nothing of you but to arrest this man and get him to retract his open threat of anarchy. You have no other choice than to re-examine your conscience.

Wike also said “Because | heard they got some money from a signature bonus and so their heads are getting big that you will put hand in my own State. Prepare because I have the capacity to also do the same thing in your State”. He is accusing the PDP

State governors that they are using Signature Bonus monies given to them to take over his ‘political structure.’ Who gave him the structure? How did he get the monies he is spending? He is alleged to have acquired several properties including the ‘hypercity’ spread across Port Harcourt? One of the branches of the hypercity is built on a State-owned land which was used as abattoir. He evacuated people from there and acquired it for himself. Where did he get the money? Can Wike show the status of his finances and wealth before he ventured into politics? Can he show his financial status and wealth since he started holding political office? How did he build his private home, his edifice, which is equated to a State House Annex in his village in Obio Akpor? What about his properties in Abuja? Today, he is boasting that he has the capacity to set fire in States governed by constituted authorities. What callousness? Because nobody questions the sources of wealth of people in this country. So, one man can amass state resources to himself and will have the temerity to threaten States in the federation. | ask, are we in a banana republic?

At this juncture, it is very appropriate to ask Barr. Wike to account for the various sums of money belonging to Rivers State that he donated to various organisations, women groups, governments, etc. He had some time ago boasted that he purchased forms for all the contestants vying for the various political offices in the State; how did he get the money?

There is nothing that Wike has not done in his attempt to sabotage the government of Siminalayi Fubara and install the former speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, his brother, as Governor. But all have failed.

He arranged a meeting which he personally attended with the former 27 members of the State Assembly. It was at that meeting, that the notice of impeachment was issued against Governor Fubara, at an ungodly hour of 7am.

On 11 December, 2023, the House met very early in the morning. It was here that the 27 members openly defected to the APC, singing APC songs of solidarity and waving APC flags. They were received and welcomed by Tony Okocha, who was the Caretaker Chairman of the party, APC. But when it dawned on Wike and his men that they had goofed, that they had shot themselves on the foot, they want to turn the nation’s Constitution upside down. Section 109 (g) is very clear. Uptill this moment, they are in Court shopping for one Judgment or the other; one Ruling or the other. Wike has devised another state in Rivers State, with him as the governor and the 27 members, his house of assembly members. Will this be possible? Definitely not.

I also wish to use this medium wholeheartedly on behalf of our people and congratulate the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governor’s Forum under the able, courageous and competent leadership of Gov Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State.

| recall vividly, how the much-adored Governor, who as a serving Senator, was recommended by his fellow serving Senators, to be appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) due to his savvy, acumen and courage for justice and fair play displayed on the floor of the Senate.

As Minister of FCT, he never used his position to harass, insult and or torment residents of Abuja, particularly those dealing in property and estate.

This sagacity, Governor Bala Mohammed has, once again, together with his colleagues the PDP Governors, displayed as Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, on its recent action on the Rivers State crisis, a PDP State. | reproduce here under part of what the Director General of the Forum, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo said in the Forum’s support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State as published in Vanguard Newspaper of 4” September 2024;

“Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have berated the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, for threatening to “set their states on fire”, should they meddle in the affairs of the party in Rivers State…. The statements and threats to peaceful coexistence made by Wike to “Put fire” in the PDP controlled States are unbridled, irresponsible and without ambiguity totally unacceptable as it undermines efforts to build and maintain peace, cohesion, collaboration and mutual respect amongst leaders and members of the party…. It is rather unfortunate that this is coming from someone who was once a member of this highly revered forum as a former governor…. The Forum has always maintained ‘A touch one touch all’ philosophy and individually and collectively stand by and support each other no matter the circumstances. A tradition Wike tremendously enjoyed in his days of travail as governor.”

As recounted by the PDP Governors Forum, through its Director General, Nyesom Wike, the present Minister of FCT, was an active member of the PDP Governors Forum. I am sure Nigerians will well recall how he arrogated to himself so much power from the Ali Modu Sheriff/Ahmed Makarfi national party chairmanship saga, to the issue of holding the party’s convention in Rivers State

At this juncture, I wish to call on the PDP leaders in Rivers State in the persons of the former National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus; Rt Hon Austine Opara, former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives; Sen. Lee Maeba; Dr Abiye Sekibo, former Minister of Transportation; Sir Celestine Omehia, who was once the Governor of Rivers State until he was removed by the Supreme Court, and other members, to come out and defend their party and their State, using all constitutional means, especially now that the Court of Appeal has set aside the decision barring them from attending National Executive Council (NEC) meetings, as a result of a case brought against them in a court in Abuja, instituted to prevent them from attending caucus and NEC meetings.

For them to show strong support and solidarity for Governor Siminalayi Fubara who by the laws of their party, is the leader of PDP in Rivers State. No one, neither the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party or Nyesom Wike, can or should be allowed to change arbitrarily or go against the rules of the party.

The party’s constitution is supreme. In talking about Wike’s revolt against constituted authorities, it will be remembered that Wike has disobeyed several supreme court judgements.

I also call on all groups, the Ogonis, the Ikwerres, the ljaws, the Etches, women, be youths, men and all justice and truth loving indigenes of Rivers State, to stand up against this inordinate ambition of one man to “own” the State “Structure”.

This will also motivate all truth and justice loving Nigerians within and outside the country, including the PDP State Governors, to join to nip this evil in the bud.

(The Sun)