- Safiu Kehinde
Elder Stateman and Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, has charged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest the Minister of Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for treason following his threat against PDP Governors.
The former Federal Commissioner for Infromation made this charge while addressing the Press on Thursday.
Clark recalled how Wike had made disturbing comment on PDP Governors supporting Rivers governor, Siminalayi Fubara, threatening to ‘put fire in their states’ if they fail to desisit from Rivers state affair.
He expressed his disappointment over Wike’s derogatory remark which he described as “a threat to public peace” and “flagrant disrespect to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”.
“It may seem right to some, but to imagine that these words came out from a serving Minister is unwholesome becoming and indeed a flagrant disrespect on the person of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, who appointed him, and a threat to public peace.
“Even more serious is the fact that this is a violation of the laws of the country as it stands now. Wike as a lawyer should have known better as one who has been in the same profession for more than 60 years.
“As an elder statesman, I know that one of the greatest offences that can be committed is to incite anarchy and threaten constituted authority of a state as it is a sure means of inciting or causing unfavourable response in those states.
“As a matter of fact, what Wike has done is a form of treason as it incites his supporters and those in the other states to rise up against constituted authority.” He said.
While stressing that nobody is above the law, Clark called for Wike’s prosecution in the same vein with the likes of Sowore and recently the arrested #endbadgovernance protesters.
“As we always say, nobody is above the law and the law must always take its course. If you could in the past arrest Sowore for similar or less implicating threat against public peace, if you are right now leading prosecution against people who participated in #Endbadgovernance protest, why are you waiting to act in the case of Wike?” He continued.
Meanwhile, Clark recalled the history of Rivers political structure which he said had been in existence before Wike was born.
“In Rivers state itself, the truth is that structures have existed. And in order to grasp this issue, there is need to go back into history.
“Rivers state was created on 27th May, 1967 as one of the first 12 stated created when the nation moved from regionalism.
“In no particular order, no state, before Wike was born on 15th December 1967. Incidentally, the man who muted the idea of state creation to the then Head of States, Gen. Yakubu Gowon was a Rivers state man.” He said.