Clark Declares Resolutions in Rivers Political Crisis as Unconstitutional, Unacceptable, Vows Resistance

Edwin Clark, the convener of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), has strongly criticized the resolutions arising from the recent meeting convened by President Bola Tinubu to address the ongoing political feud between Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.

The feud, which has escalated in recent weeks, saw Fubara and Wike engaging in a power struggle for control over the state’s political landscape.

At Monday’s meeting held at the presidential villa in Abuja, attended by both Fubara and Wike, an eight-point resolution was reached. Among the key agreements was an immediate halt to all impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and the reinstatement of the 27 lawmakers who had previously defected.

Expressing his disapproval at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Clark deemed the resolutions “baffling, appalling, and unacceptable” to the people. He labeled the agreements as “undemocratic and dictatorial,” accusing them of paving the way for Wike to assume political leadership in Rivers.

Clark suggested that the resolutions might be an expression of gratitude from Tinubu to Wike for delivering the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the recent presidential election.

The elder statesman specifically criticized the directive that the Rivers 2024 budget be presented again to the house of assembly, terming it as “another unthinkable directive.”

Describing the resolutions as the most “unconstitutional, absurd, and obnoxious” he has witnessed, Clark asserted that the laws of the land were not adhered to during the meeting.

In a stern warning, he declared, “We will resist such draconic, arbitrary, and unconstitutional action by Mr. President and his customer, Nyesom Wike. We will go to court to challenge this so-called one-sided and oppressive action of Mr. President.” The veteran statesman emphasized that no amount of power should override the constitution and vowed to contest the decisions made during the meeting.