‘Anarchy must be averted’ — Edwin Clark writes Egbetokun over Rivers political crisis

Edwin Clark, the convener of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), has asked Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police (IGP), to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order in Rivers state.

In a letter to the IGP on Tuesday, Clark warned that the political crisis in Rivers may have negative consequences for the whole of the Niger Delta region if allowed to escalate.

In recent months, members of the Rivers house of assembly and Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state, have been at loggerheads.

The friction was the result of a power tussle between Fubara and his successor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

The crisis climaxed after 27 out of 32 lawmakers in the house defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In October 2023, the assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against the governor.

The impeachment notice was later withdrawn in December 2023.

On several occasions, the assembly has overridden the decision of Fubara not to sign certain bills passed by the lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule, the speaker.

‘WE MUST AVERT ANARCHY’

In the letter, Clark alerted the IGP to the purported move by the lawmakers to impeach the governor.

“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 a crisis will not only affect Rivers State politically, socially, and economically but will also affect the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large,” the letter reads.

“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 crises.

“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 that 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 or 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 PANDEF convener claimed that 27 lawmakers had “automatically forfeited their seats” when they changed their party allegiance and should have no say in the house’s decision.

However, the case determining the legitimacy of the members of the Rivers assembly who defected from the PDP to the APC is still pending in court.