The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has come under intense criticism over his threat to set fire to states under the control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Ijaw nation leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has asked the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest Wike over the threat, describing it as “flagrant disrespect” to President Bola Tinubu and a threat to public peace.
“Wike has breached a number of laws, public laws and so on. He has committed crimes, and for him to say that he will burn states belonging to PDP governors and so on, is treasonable. Nobody, no governor, no minister can go to that extent. It’s a breach of the constitution,” Clark said.
Clark also drew parallels between Wike’s threat and the arrest of Omoyele Sowore, who was detained for calling for a revolution in Nigeria. “If you could, in the past, arrest Sowore for similar or less instigating threats against public peace and public officials, if you are right now leading prosecution in the law court against people who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protests, what are you waiting for to act in the case of Wike?” Clark asked.
However, Wike’s kinsmen, under the aegis of Concerned Rivers Citizens for Good Governance, have tackled Clark, warning him to desist from his repeated attacks on Wike. The group described Clark’s criticism as “vituperations” and accused him of being an “elder statesman” who has praised Wike in the past.
Meanwhile, the South-South Chiefs, Elders and Opinion Leaders Association of Nigeria has expressed worry over the lingering political crisis in Rivers State and called on Wike to allow peace to reign in the state. The group’s chairman, Dr Omubo Harry, said, “May I also humbly appeal to those of you who have served for eight years, your tenure is over. Let us give the young man to bring in his own ideas and we are seeing the dividends.”
Harry also advised Wike to obey the rule of law and come to terms with the fact that he is no longer a governor, hence he should allow his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, to concentrate on governance in the state. “You don’t dare God. Fubara will complete the eight years,” Harry said.
