Tag: Clark

Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has criticised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for setting up a reconciliation committee, arguing that the party needs a probe panel to investigate members involved in anti-party activities.

In an open letter addressed to Amb. Umar Illiya Damagum, the PDP acting national chairman on Tuesday, August 20, Clark emphasised the need for a thorough examination of the activities of the members.

He also urged Damagum to purge himself of all his wrongdoings.

The letter read: “The purpose of this Open Letter, therefore, Mr. Acting National Chairman of PDP, is:  “To call on you to immediately set up a probe panel/committee to probe members like Barr. Nyesom Wike, and if found guilty, to face the appropriate sanctions as prescribed by the party’s constitution, and not the setting up of a Reconciliation Committee under the chairmanship of Maj. Gen. Oyinlola, with whom when I discussed, asked him whom he is reconciling, because the G-5, members have disintegrated. While the Governor of Oyo State who was a member of the G-5, has retraced his steps back to his party fully, and today leader of the party in the South-West, the other three are floating about.

“To urge you to also purge yourself of all malfeasance. As Acting National Chairman of your party, you took your party’s NWC to court on the defection of the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, that because they did leave the PDP properly, they are still members of the party, even after the 27 members had publicly declared that they have defected, and had already been received by the APC.

“Your position Mr. Acting National Chairman is antithetical to the position of Section 109. You took your party’s NEC to court, an organ you presided over. Yet you still have the presence of mind to remain in office, earning benefits that come with the office. From all indications, you are conniving with detractors of PDP to ruin the party, for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Allow Nigerians to decide what party they want through the ballot box.

Read Also: Again Clark urges Tinubu to end political crisis in Rivers

Stop colluding with Nyesom Wike to destroy the party. A day of reckoning will come for all of man’s activities.

“Therefore, let me state again, set up a probe panel to investigate the obvious and open antiparty activities of Barr. Nyesom Wike and for insulting the foremost leader of the party, Senator Adolphus Wabara, Chairman, Board of the Trustees of the party, which is the soul of the party. In fact, he should be expelled from the party for his crime against the party.

“I also wish to use this medium to call on all responsible and reasonable PDP party elders and members to take a bold step to flush out Barrister Wike from the party. He is not above the party. He should be expelled from it.”

Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday disagreed with a former Transportation Minister, Senator George Sekibo, on the role Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike plays in Ijaw political matters.

Sekibo recently championed the formation of Ijaw Peoples Congress (IPC), which hailed Wike for helping an Ijaw man to succeed him as Rivers State governor in last year’s general election.

But Clark said Sekibo’s action amounted to sacrificing Ijaw’s soul on the altar of political patronage.

In a letter to Sekibo, Chief Clark said: “I am writing to put things in proper context because a number of wrong information was communicated both in your speech and subsequent television interviews as it pertains to the roles played by various persons, particularly your principal, Chief Nyesom Wike, as it concerns the Ijaw.

“My dear son, the Ijaw have made sacrifices for the survival and growth of all tribes in Rivers State, including Nyesom Wike, without expecting the beneficiaries of such Ijaw kind gestures to be excessively sublime towards them or expect them to lay on the ground for the Ijaw to step on them.

Read Also: Rivers crisis: Edwin Clark faults Sekibo over comment on Ijaws

“Nyesom Wike knows that aside from God, the biggest players who have supported him to rise to his political level today are the Ijaw, including myself. I am sure he knows the roles I have played in his political ascendency. There is, therefore, no need to be apologetic to Nyesom Wike when there is no offence.

“In the course of the Ijaw fighting for people of all tribes, it was almost a daily occurrence with all the political actors seeing ourselves as one.

“The 2015 election was particularly tough due to the emergence of the APC (All Progressives Congress) in Nigeria and in Rivers State as a strong force. At that time, former Governor (Rotimi) Amaechi had moved from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC and presented Dakuku Peterside, a prominent Ijaw son, to contest the election.“

The Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark on Tuesday, May 7, warmed against looming danger in Rivers state if the political crisis is not nib in the bud.

This follows the incessant Impeachment threat on Governor Siminalayi Fubara by

Speaker Martins Amaewhule led the State Assembly, believed to be loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Clark in an open letter to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, urged the IGP to step into the matter to forestall anarchy in the state by stopping the members of the House of Assembly from parading themselves as lawmakers.

 He explained that under 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.

The section states: “Being a person whose election to the House of Assembly was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another party 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 members.”

The former national commissioner 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.

Read Also: Governor Diboua, Nigerian community laud Ambassador Clark-Omeru

“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 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 crises of all dimensions in nearly all parts of this country already and we therefore prevent any more 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”.

He therefore urged the Police IG to 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 added: “You also have 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 centre, 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 favour of one individual and his followers.”

The Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has urged chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ola Olukoyede to revisit all abandoned high profile cases pending in court.

Clark said the EFCC boss has earned his respect the more with the handling of former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello saga.

The former national Commissioner in a letter to Olukoyede titled “Re: The reviving of all abandoned high profile corrupt cases against politicians by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission” urged the anti-graft czar not to be moved by criticisms against him.

He wrote: “Mr Chairman, I am prompted to address this letter to you after seeing you on the television courageously and forthrightly speaking on behalf of your commission (EFCC) on the former Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Yahaya Bello’s case which is already pending in the Federal High Court Abuja and as usual, some unpatriotic and misguided Nigerians have criticized you, branding your appearance on the television as media propaganda. I totally disagree with them and you are on the right path.

“I sincerely appeal to my handsome and attractive son, Yahaya Bello to surrender himself to the court with dignity and stop engaging in pursuing procedural issues which some Nigerian lawyers are manipulating in the media.

“The offence allegedly committed by him is bailable.

Read Also: Five things to know about Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway construction

“The real issue is that Yahaya Bello paid some amount of money to the American School, which was paid with the Kogi State Government’s fund, to the sum of $845,852.

” It is also true that the American School has refunded $760,910 to the EFCC which demanded for it.

“It must be noted that the issue of bench warrant has always been an instrument used by Nigerian Courts to draw the attention of high profile Government officials that no one is above the law. It is not new by the court and Yahaya Bello’s case should not be treated differently.

“At this juncture, Nigerians should ask themselves if corruption is a monster that must be defeated ?

“Otherwise we are in big trouble. As our Former President, Muhammadu Buhari use to say, “If we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill us”. Again, I appeal to the Nigerian public to support the new Chairman of EFCC in his crusade against corruption.

“Secondly, I wish to congratulate you wholeheartedly on your appointment as the new Executive Chairman of EFCC whereby you have taken over effectively from the past Chairman Abdul Rasheed Bawa.

“I hope you will definitely perform your duties effectively, impeccably, fair and just and without any discrimination, political victimization or witch-hunting of political opponents and have the courage and ability to confront the so called sacred cows in our society.

“The level of corruption in the public service and even in private business has reached such an alarming scale. It has become a recognised way of our daily lives. While the Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Directors in a Ministry carry out corruption and abuse of office at a large scale at higher level, the lower ranks in the Ministry even including the clerks and messengers are also involved in minor ways of corruption by hiding files and documents and asking for money before releasing them.

“A new trend has now increased the temple of corruption. It is ridiculous to say that some of the officers and assistants have increased the level of corruption in the public service. Some of those in the Presidency, Ministers offices, President of the Senate and so on demand money particularly in Dollars before allowing you to see their principals.

“Corruption and abuse of office which unfortunately has become our way of life can only be reduced if there is political will on the part of the Government to prosecute all those found corrupt as emergency cases and given accelerated hearing or the Federal Government should create a special court for a period of time to treat high profile corrupt cases and not to allow such corrupt cases to be announced over the media and no further action taken.”

He further added that “Some of the former Governors who were charged to court in the past ten years never went back to court to list most of these cases for trial. What type of society do we belong to in this country?

“However, I deeply appreciate your courage and will power in reviving these high profile corrupt cases involving former Governors, some of whom are in the Senate shamelessly parading themselves as innocent citizens while some of them are today serving as Ministers in the present Administration. It is therefore with great pleasure I read with satisfaction your recent release wildly published in the internet and some newspapers particularly in Sunday Punch of 14th January 2024 at page 3.

“You spoke the mind of all patriotic Nigerians who seriously believe in the eradication of corrupt practices in our body polity.

“You revealed the names of these unpatriotic culprits who embezzled the sum of about ₦772 Billion, enough to rejuvenate our ailing economy.

“I join other Nigerians in supporting you to carryout with rapidity to complete the investigations of these cases and to expedite the trial of all those charged to court since 2007; who are not only in the Senate and Government dining and wining with Mr President but are also living lavishly at the expense of volatile and vulnerable Nigerians.

“I also wish to advise you that all former Governors who served the country and some of who looted their state treasury as it is alleged in Yahaya Bello’s case should be investigated by your commission with rapidity to enable Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to carry out his anti-corruption crusade.

“Finally, I pray the almighty God give you strength, courage, determination, ability and wisdom to carryout this very important natural assignment to eradicate corruption in our society.”

Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday urged President Bola Tinubu to set up a special task force to rescue the remaining 90 Chibok schoolgirls.

Clark gave the suggestion while addressing reporters on the 10th anniversary of the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State, by the Boko Haram insurgents.

The one-time Federal Commissioner suggested that the duty of the task force should be to search and rescue the girls.

He said: “I believe the President should appoint a special task force with brave soldiers – competent, transparent and not despotic – and should be given a time limit.

Read Also: Chibok girls: Set up special task force to rescue remaining 90 girls, Clark tells Tinubu

“Their main duty is to travel at all times to Sambisa Forest and anywhere else to search for these girls. This is because we cannot say because over 100 have been freed we should be losing 90 children; even the other girl in Yobe, Leah Shaibu.

“So, I am appealing to Mr. President because I was shocked that no government has given the Chibok girls priority.”

Clark noted that for one of the rescued girls to have said she wanted to return to the bush (to be with the insurgents) showed that something was wrong somewhere.

The schoolgirls, the elder statesman said, had complained that the government had promised them university education up to Masters degree while the government had not fulfilled its promise.

“What is the Minister of Women Affairs doing? What is the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs doing?”

The Ijaw National Congress (INC), has condemned the raid by the Nigerian Army on the country home of Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark in Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta.

This is contained in a statement by Prof Benjamin Okaba, President, INC in Abuja on Saturday.

Okaba said the raid by the military on the country home of 97 years old Clark, the leader of Pam-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), came to the INC as a rude shock.

He said this was because the elder statesman only lives a life of service to his community and country and wondered why he would be treated with such disrespect.

According to him, the raid, which Clark himself called an “invasion” occurred on the March, 23, as the said they were tracking the fleeing suspected in the recent murder of soldiers at Okuama, Delta.

“The search, which was conducted in the most arduous and harrowing manner, came with harassment and physical torture of relatives, aides and other occupants of the compound.

“The property was attacked from the air, land and water. So shocking, because not even Enscobar, Anini or the dreaded Oyenusi of old were treated in such gruesome manner”.

The INC president recalled that on Sept. 4, 2018, a similar raid was conducted on the home of Clark, former minister of Information, in Abuja.

He added that just like the current one, nothing incriminating was found, even then.

“The INC is at loss why a 97 years old man who had lived a life of service to his community and country would be treated with such ignominy, disrespect and contempt.

“Pa EK Clark has never been a violent person. He is not known to own a catapult or a jackknife in all his life.

“He is rather a lawyer, crusader for justice, equity and fairness across Nigeria. He speaks for the voiceless and powerless. An incurable defender of the defenseless”, he said.

Okaba said it was therefore the position of the INC that the actions by the Nigerian establishment was not accidental or based on wrong intelligence as they want it to be.

According to him, to the INC, these are deliberate actions to silence, cow, intimidate, cajole one of the loudest and credible voices in the South/South and the Niger Delta Region.

“The INC came to the conclusion, after observing that not a single person in the other regions of Nigeria with such social standing and connections to their people like EK Clark have been subjected to such humiliating and tortuous treatment.

Read Also: Clark hails Tinubu on Lagos-Calabar coastal road

“Not even those that came out boldly to identify themselves as friends and ransom collectors for kidnappers and bandits.

“These actions by the Nigerian State are totally unacceptable. Nigeria belongs to all of us.

“Nobody should be treated as a second class citizen, not the least a man of honour like EK Clark, a revered and respected Izon icon”, he said.

While insisting that a public apology be rendered to Clark and the military/he said federal government should take responsibility for fixing all damage caused during the raid and cautioned against a repeat.

(NAN)

Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark has commended President Bola Tinubu for the award of the construction of the Lagos to Calabar coastal road.

Clark in an open letter to the president where he raised some issues relating to infrastructural development of the Niger Delta region, and the country at large, said when completed the project will change the landscape of infrastructural development in Nigeria.

He however asked the president to particularly pay more attention to projects in the Niger Delta area.

He stated: “I congratulate you, your Minister of Works and former Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, David Umahi, for the recent award of the coastal road which will stretch from Lagos State down to Calabar, Cross River State. 

“This is a landmark project which if completed, will change the landscape of infrastructural development in Nigeria.  It is particularly pleasing to note that this project is being executed as a Public/Private Partnership (PPP). This means that a substantial portion of the funding, which is over ₦1trillion, will be coming from the private sector.

“I assure you that we will not only endorse this project but will fully extend our support to ensure its completion, especially at the areas of the Niger Delta where it will pass through.”

He added: “Like Oliver Twist, the Niger Delta people are seriously requesting Mr President to give priority to the very important project which will no doubt cater for the security and welfare of our people having regards to the role of the region in supporting the economy of the entire country.

“The Coastal Road, therefore, could not be a substitution for our immediate requirement. It is estimated that the portion being constructed by the contractor from the Lagos end may take at least two years to complete before moving to the second phase.”  

Read Also: Support Tinubu, ex-envoy Adesina appeals to Nigeria

He also called for the completion of the unending East-West road, the coastal rail project from Lagos to Calabar

The Elderstateman also called the attention of President Tinubu to the Warri-Itakpe-Lokoja-Abuja railway line which currently terminates in Lokoja.

Clark said the government should ensure it completion of the Lokoja -Abuja axis. 

Also, the president in the letter was asked about Calabar-Itu Road; Benin-Sapele-Warri Road and Bodo-Bonny Road project.

He assured the president that the projects would be signature projects if he could complete them.        

“Finally, it is at this juncture I want to urge you Mr. President, to use your authority and stamp your name in gold by completing these priority roads and making it a thing of the past.   This also has a moral implication because this is where the wealth of the country i.e. Money from oil comes from and it is a matter of equity and fairness that we have a good road on which people can pass.  

“Once more, Mr. President, I want to assure you that on such a noble effort, you can count on my support and that of the entire people of the south-south.”

A group, Niger Delta Lawyers For Equity (NDLF), has issued a one-week ultimatum to the federal government for immediate apology over the raiding of Pa Edwin Clark‘s home by soldiers.

The group said it will seek legal redress if an apology is not rendered.

A statement jointly signed by its coordinator, Akpokona Omafuaire and secretary, Amos David, on March 27, in Warri, demanded an apology within one week or else it will seek legal redress.

The statement reads: “We, at Niger Delta Lawyers for Equity, read with dismay and utter disbelief the raiding of the home of our South-South Leader in commando style. We want to believe it is not real.

“We want the President and Chief of Defence Staff to tender an unreserved apology within one week, failure of which we shall institute legal action for this great disrespect and international humiliation.

“While everyone condemned the ill-fated incident near Okuama community and commensurate with families of the slain officers. We want to say that the military operations have gone too far and out of control.

“Pa Clark is the face of the South-South and Niger Delta region, he has paid his due in the conflagration called Nigeria. And as a result, the raiding of his country home is not only an affront to him but to the whole Niger Delta region and its people.

Read Also: Rivers crisis: Edwin Clark fumes, says purported resolution unacceptable, dictatorial

“We understand that when issues concern the region, the security forces want to show their best destructive skills. If they had deplored the same aggression in the insecurity in the North, the issue of Book Haram and bandits would be long gone.

“Pa Clark was one of the first to condemn the killing of soldiers, so why humiliate him for calling for the apprehension of the perpetrators of the heinous crime?

“Can similar action be carried out in the homes of top Fulani and Hausa leaders when such act happened far from their homes in the North?

“We believed it is a calculated move to humiliate and pushed the voice of the Niger Delta region to an early grave. As a result, we are demanding a national apology from the President and the Chief of Army Staff and not that caricature call.

“Failure of which within one week, we shall be left with no option but to file an action against them and make a petition to Amnesty International and United Nations.” the statement added.