- The elder statesman criticized the eight-point resolution as “undemocratic and dictatorial,” claiming it aims to transfer Rivers’ political leadership to Wike.
- Clark stated that Tinubu is expressing gratitude to Wike for winning the presidential election in Rivers for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) chairperson, Edwin Clark, has criticised the meeting by President Bola Tinubu about the dispute between Nyesom Wike and Siminalayi Fubara.
The political authority of the state has been the source of contention between Rivers Governor Fubara and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Wike in recent weeks.
At a meeting with Tinubu on Monday at the presidential villa in Abuja, the two decided to put a stop to their disagreement.
Fubara, Wike, and other Rivers stakeholders agreed to drop all impeachment procedures against the governor “immediately” in the eight-point resolution they signed.
Additionally, they decided that the 27 MPs who defected should be reinstated as assembly members and that Martin Amaewhule should be acknowledged as speaker.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Clark said the resolutions are “baffling, appalling and unacceptable” to the people.
The eight-point resolution, according to the senior statesman, is “undemocratic and dictatorial,” and it is intended to transfer Rivers’ political leadership to Wike.
According to Clark, the resolutions demonstrate Tinubu’s attempts to express his appreciation to Wike for the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s victory in the Rivers presidential contest.
The resolution calling for a second presentation of the Rivers 2024 budget to the house of assembly is described by the elder statesman as “another unthinkable directive.”
“The eight resolutions reached, are the most unconstitutional, absurd and obnoxious resolutions at settling feuding parties that I have ever witnessed in my life,” he said.
“As a matter of fact, some media captured it very well when they described it as directives.
“And for the fact that such thing was done at the villa, the seat of the Federal Government of Nigeria, is sacrilegious, because any place housing or is a custodian of symbol of authority, ought to be sacred.
“It is obvious that Governor Siminialayi Fubara was ambushed and intimidated into submission.
“President Tinubu should know that with all the powers he possesses, he cannot override the constitution.
“From all that transpired at the meeting, the laws of the land have not been obeyed.
“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.”