Elder statesman and convener Edwin Clark, leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark has said Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), needs to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the party to survive.
Through an open letter to Umar Damagum, acting chair of the PDP, Clark stated that he would not permit Wike destroy the Nigeria’s main opposition party and Rivers state.
The elder statesman alleged that the FCT minister is ready to use his “closeness” to President Bola Tinubu to plug his influence on Rivers.
“Wike must leave PDP for the party to survive,” he said.
“Mr. Acting National Chairman, as a matter of fact, it is not just the national legal adviser of the PDP that is shocked about your actions – all well-meaning, reasonable, patriotic, faithful and honest party members, including many Nigerians, are equally shocked.
“The obvious anti-party activities of you and the national secretary, both of whom are obviously tools in the hands of Barr. Nyesom Wike, used with all intention to bring down the government of Siminalayi Fubara, the executive governor of Rivers State, as confessed by Barr. Wike himself during his recent outing at Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, the local government of Sen. George Sekibo, is palpable.”
The PANDEF leader said Wike’s will to control Rivers is contrary to the constitution.
“Barr. Nyesom Wike’s arbitrariness knows no bounds,” he said.
“As a matter of fact, his actions and attitude have become unconstitutional. His desire to control Rivers state using ‘his structure’ is against Section 1 (2) of the 1999 Constitution.”
Chief Clark also berated Damagum for an alleged attempt at conferring legal validation to the Rivers lawmakers that are loyal to Wike.
“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,” he said.
“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 preside over.
“From all indications, you are conniving with detractors of PDP to ruin the party, for the APC.”