A former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has asked the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Nyesom Wike to leave Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and the people of the state alone.
He advised the minister to concentrate on the nation’s Capital because he has a lot to do.
Clark stated this in an Interview with African Independent Television, AIT on Tuesday.
He accused the former Rivers State governor and the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and his successor as the masterminds of what he described as politics of madness in Rivers State.
Clark, who is also the Leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, noted that godfatherism must give way in the nation’s polity to the politics of development, growth and democracy.
When asked why attempts have not been made to settle both Wike and Fubara, the Leader of the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF described the problem as egocentricism rather than a political problem.
He said, “The issue is more of I made you the governor of the state and you must worship me.
“But the other is saying that he cannot worship man, but God, even though he agreed that he was made the governor by the former governor.
“What are you going to settle? Were they quarrelling? People said Wike made Fubara governor, yes, that is true. The man has acknowledged it. But he says, I can’t worship a human being that I will worship God to show appreciation. But Wike said that worship God through me. The man said no. That is the problem they have.”
The interview by the AIT with Clark was in commemoration of Clark’s 97th Birthday as well as a part of a documentary on his life.
Clark said, “Who made you (Wike) Governor of Rivers States? Today, you don’t want to see the man? He wrote about Peter Odili and said that if he did anything against Odili, God should kill him.
“Politics of madness in Rivers State was started by Wike and Amaechi. They don’t care about other people. Wike should stay in Abuja to do his job. Let the young man rule his place.”
On the Rivers State House of Assembly members who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the All Progressives Congress, APC, he said, “So, as far as I’m concerned, it will ease out. And this is tied to what you said about INEC. INEC is not doing its job. The constitution is clear. There’s a legal advisor in the INEC office.
“When such vacancies are created like this, they have to take action to conduct an election within 90 days to fill those vacant places, which they have not done. These are some of their failings.”
When asked what he would like to be remembered for, Clark disclosed that he would want to be remembered as a foremost Nigerian who believed in Nigeria, who believed in equality in this country, and who believed that no one in Nigeria should be regarded as a superior person against the other.
He also asked those he offended in the course of his sojourn and work to forgive him.
He said, “I am one of the oldest statesmen in Nigeria. I was very happy when His Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, during my book launch, Brutally Frank, asked everybody to stand up, General Yakubu Gowon, and former President Goodluck Jonathan, among others were all there.
“He said, everybody should stand up. The Ooni said that Chief Clark is our Baba, he is our nationalist, a national figure. So, what honour would be more than that?
“So, I want to be remembered for the role I played in Nigeria, and an appeal to those that during these 70-something years of my service to my country, those that I do not know that I have offended, to forgive me.”
