Pa Edwin Clark, the revered leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), expressed strong disapproval of what he termed an “imposed settlement” resulting from the recent truce between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Clark voiced his concerns during a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
The elder statesman found the communique issued after the reconciliatory meeting at the Aso Villa in Abuja “baffling, appalling, and unacceptable,” particularly to the Ijaw ethnic nationality.
The protracted political turbulence in Rivers State has seen drastic shifts in power dynamics, with the state House of Assembly becoming a focal point of contention.
Despite earlier interventions in October by the President and other elder statesmen, the conflict escalated into a more significant crisis, marked by defections, parallel sittings, an impeachment plot against Governor Fubara, the demolition of the Assembly complex, and a series of resignations from pro-Wike commissioners in Fubara’s cabinet.
Following Monday’s meeting, the feuding parties agreed to withdraw all court matters and to drop all impeachment proceedings against the governor. The resolution also recognized Martin Amaewhule’s leadership in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In a swift response to the settlement, Clark voiced his reservations, suggesting a political undertone to President Tinubu’s role as a mediator.
He asserted, “From the terms of settlement, it is obvious that President Tinubu sees his role as a mediator, to once again, show gratitude to the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for ‘delivering’ Rivers State to him during the past Presidential elections, having first gratified him by making him the Minister of FCT.”
He continued, “The eight resolutions reached, are the most unconstitutional, absurd and obnoxious resolutions at settling feuding parties that I have ever witnessed in my life.”
According to him, Fubara was “ambushed and intimidated into submission”.
Clark said, “President Tinubu should know that with all the powers he possesses, he cannot override the Constitution. From all that transpired at the meeting, the laws of the land have not been obeyed. President Tinubu simply sat over a meeting where the Constitution, which is the fulcrum of his office as President and which he swore to uphold and abide by, was truncated and desecrated.”
“Like I said, we will go to go court to resist this oppressive action using all available constitutional and legal means. It is on this note I wish to appeal to the youths who are aggrieved, to remain calm, as we will use legal means to dethrone this hydra headed monster, called oppression.”
As the political landscape in Rivers State remains turbulent, Clark hinted at the possibility of legal action, indicating that the imposed settlement may face scrutiny in the courts.
The development underscores the complexities surrounding political reconciliations and the enduring challenges within Nigeria’s political arenas.