- Tells Damagum To Withdraw Support For Wike If…
By Abiola Olawale
Elderstatesman, former Federal Commissioner (Minister) for Information, and a prominent South-South leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, has once again written to the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Damagum, warning him about the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Clark, the national leader of the Ijaws, warned Damagum to withdraw his support for Wike, declaring that the Minister has been allegedly working against the PDP.
According to him, the modus operandi of the country’s opposition party is wrong. Clark, the Leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), wondered why Damagum is supporting Wike against a sitting Governor of the party, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
He maintained that the PDP Chairman and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu are allegedly working in favour of pro-Wike lawmakers led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule to help them regain what he described as lost legitimacy.
According to him, the bid is to aid the pro-Wike lawmakers make another attempt towards their dream of removal of Fubara.
He stated: “This is, without a doubt, my third letter to you since you took office as the Acting National Chairman of the PDP. If they do not stop meddling in the Rivers issue, Damagum and Wike will be consumed. Wike must leave the PDP if the party is to survive. I hope and pray that you will not sell your soul and conscience for monetary and worldly gain; otherwise, you, Barr Wike, and your cohorts will be consumed by the Rivers State crisis.”
The Elder Statesman also maintained that Wike should be expelled from the party on grounds of anti-party activities.
He accused Wike of showing intent to destabilise the smooth operations of the Rivers State government.
Clark continued: “Mr Acting National Chairman it is not just the National Legal Adviser of the PDP who is shocked by your actions; all well-meaning, reasonable, patriotic, faithful, and honest party members, including many Nigerians, are also shocked.
“The obvious antiparty activities of you and the National Secretary, both of whom are tools in the hands of Barr. Nyesom Wike, used with all intent 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 recent actions of Barr. Wike before and during the last meeting of the party in April, shows clearly that he is all out to destabilise the smooth running of the Rivers State government; he is ready to use his closeness to Mr. President to insult, intimidate and harass members of the party, especially those in Rivers State, who have decided to tow the right path of both the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Constitution of the PDP, and who in
“Section 1 of the country’s 1999 Constitution states that the Constitution is supreme. It states, “Section 1(1) This Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on all authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“My dear Acting National Chairman, I am sure you have read all of these sections of the Constitution, including Section 109 (1) (g). You have a degree in education and have served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Romania. So, you have had enough education and exposure to understand what those sections are saying. To give effect to section 109, the Supreme Court ruled that defections in the House of Assembly under the prescribed conditions result in automatic loss of seats and no reversion.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was properly informed of the members’ defection. However, you and your National Secretary wrote a letter to the Court of Appeal to violate that provision of the constitution. This is a crime against the state in and of itself and is unbecoming of someone who holds the high office of national chairman of a political party.”
