Don’t Let Rivers Crisis Escalate, Clark Urges Tinubu

Elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark has, again, pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to help halt what he described as the threatening political crisis in Rivers State.

Clark, in an open letter to the president, advised that the “small fire” in Rivers State should be quenched immediately and not allowed to conflagrate further.

The southern leader, nonetheless, congratulated the president for dousing tension in the state when he said he wouldn’t take sides in the unfolding crisis between the governor Siminalayi Fubara and the minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike.

The Niger Delta leader urged the president to call the minister to order in the interest of governance in the state.
Recall that the raging political impasse in Rivers State escalated recently over the tenure of local government chairmen in the state.

Clark, in his letter yesterday said, “Mr. President, I humbly submit that given my age and status as a senior citizen of Nigeria, I cannot accept on behalf of my people any actions that undermine or violate the provisions of the 1999 Federal Constitution of Nigeria as amended.

“As you well known, I have served the country in different capacity including serving in the same cabinet with three colleagues at the time (General Murtala Mohammed, Alhaji Shehu Shagari and General

Olusegun Obasanjo), all of whom later became President of this country. That some of us have kept quiet on issues such as this is not because we are afraid to speak out but for the respect and support which we have for your office.

“I have seen a lot in politics and governance, both in Nigeria and around the world. What may seem irrelevant to you today can become a major difficulty to the government in no time.
“As one old enough to be your father since you are only 73 years old, I advise again, let this small fire in Rivers State be quenched immediately and not allowed to conflagrate further.
“Specifically, I am calling on you to tread the path of great honour as a self-professed democrat in bringing the very troubling situation in Rivers State to an immediate end.
“This is because not doing so will appear as the proverbial Caesar sitting on his oars when Rome was burning. Let me remind you that the situation in Rivers State is like a banana peel and if nothing is done early, could engulf everywhere.
“Once again, I want to express on behalf of our people in the south-south our profound gratitude and appreciation for the patriotic and authoritative release from the Presidency concerning the present situation in Rivers State,” the elder statesman added.

Clark however thanked the president for his message of congratulation to him on the occasion of my 97th birthday.