Edwin Clark, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) leader, has urged Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to arrest Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Clark’s request follows Wike’s comment at a Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congress in August: “I will put fire in the states of governors siding with Siminalayi Fubara, the governor.”

Wike and Fubara have been at odds over Rivers State issues, causing a rift in the Rivers House of Assembly with two factions electing speakers loyal to each.

In an open letter, “Arrest Wike Now With a Warrant of Arrest,” Clark stated: “Wike has gone overboard in his macabre dance.”

“As we lawyers say, nobody is above the law and the law must take its course,” he said.

“If you could in the past arrest Omoyele Sowore for similar or less implicating threats against public peace and public officials, if you are right now leading prosecution in law courts against people who participated in ‘End Bad Governance’ protest, what are you waiting to act in this case of Wike?

“My dear IG, at well over 97 years of age, and having held various positions in government including being a Minister over 50 years ago, I am shocked that a public officer who is an appointee of a serving President can descend to this level.

“When we worked under Gen. Yakubu Gowon, GCFR, in the Federal Executive Council, the code of conduct which we were expected to keep especially as it pertained to being instruments of public order was at the highest level.

“There is nothing that Wike has not done in his attempt to sabotage the government of Siminalayi Fubara and install the former speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, his brother, as Governor.

“But all have failed.”

Clark said Wike should not be allowed to change the rules of the party arbitrarily because of his feud with Fubara who is the leader of the PDP in Rivers.

The Labour Party has announced a 29-member caretaker committee, chaired by former Finance Minister, Senator Nenadi Usman.

Senator Darlington Nwokocha, Immediate-past Senate Minority Deputy Leader, will serve as Secretary.

The committee’s formation was resolved at the Party’s NEC/Extended Stakeholders meeting held at Government House, Umuahia.

According to Chief Press Secretary Ukoha Njoku: “The Terms of Reference of the Committee include, ‘ensuring the conduct of Ward, Local Government, State Congresses and National Convention as soon as possible and in accordance with the Constitution of the Labour Party’.”

The caretaker committee is tasked with organizing elections for new party leadership within 90 days.

Other members representing various interest groups including NLC, TUC, Senate, House of Representatives, House of Assembly, and Gubernatorial Candidates in the last election.

The meeting equally commended Governor Alex Otti for his leadership in hosting the meeting and enjoined members of the party to support the Caretaker Committee to achieve its mandates.

The resolution named other members of the Committee to include 3 Senators, 4 members of House of Representatives, 3 members from States House of Assembly, 3 members from the Nigeria Labour Congress, 3 members from the Trade Union Congress, 3 members from the Gubernatorial Candidates in the last election among others.

The Governor of Abia state, Alex Otti, said that the meeting was convened to deal with the existential problems confronting the party and chart a way forward for the Party.

He noted that the tenure of the National working Committee of the Party headed by Bar. Julius Abure had elapsed since 10th of June 2024 and called on all stakeholders of the party to join forces together to resolve every internal problems of the party.

Governor Otti said that the overall interest of all Labour Party Stakeholders is the survival of the party and not necessarily the composition of the NWC as far as it is constitutionally composed.

Also Speaking, the National Leader of the party and Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, said that all they are doing is to follow the guidelines established by law to save the party from total collapse.

He noted that Labour Party being the third largest party in Nigeria has the potential of being the brightest if things are put in the right perspective and urged members of the party to give the caretaker Committee the needed support to enable it succeed in its assignments.

Responding on behalf of members of the caretaker Committee, the Chairman, Senator Usman thanked the National Leader of the party Mr. Peter Obi and other stakeholders for finding them fit for the task and assured that they will justify the confidence reposed in them.

Highlights of the meeting was the reaffirmation of the solid confidence in the leadership of the National Leader of the party Mr. Peter Obi and the resolution that all members with legal case against the party should withdraw same for the overall interest of the party.

Governors elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) banner have denounced Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for threatening to destabilize their states over support for Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

In a statement issued by PDP Governors’ Forum Director General, Emmanuel Agbo, the governors labeled Wike’s threats as “empty”.

The governors had previously declared support for Fubara, urging him to assert control over the Rivers PDP, amidst the ongoing rift between Wike and his predecessor.

Wike, speaking in Port Harcourt, warned the governors to refrain from interfering in Rivers affairs, cautioning that he could orchestrate crises in their states.

The statement reads in part: “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, under the chairmanship of H.E. Senator Bala Abdulkarim Mohamed (CON) and Governor of Bauchi State and all the member-governors has been drawn to a widely circulating news story in which the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, H.E. Barrister Nyesom Wike, former Governor of Rivers State, made scathing and threatening comments regarding member-governors of the forum and notes the significant concerns that has been raised in the public space regarding the unity and peaceful coexistence within our party.

“The statements and threats to peaceful coexistence made by Wike to ‘put fire’ in the PDP-controlled states are unbridled, irresponsible and without ambiguity totally unacceptable as it undermines efforts to build and maintain peace, cohesion, collaboration and mutual respect amongst leaders and members of the party. It is rather unfortunate that this is coming from someone who was once a member of this highly revered forum as a former governor.”

The PDP governors maintained their support for Fubara to take charge as the PDP leader in Rivers, noting that Wike enjoyed the same privilege when he was governor.

“We maintain that our position on the affairs of the PDP in Rivers State, as unanimously resolved at our 2024, 3rd and 4th Meetings held in Enugu and Taraba states, respectively are not subject to review by any individual no matter how highly-placed.

“We wish to emphasise that neither is the position of the forum personal nor does it, by any stretch of the imagination, undermine the relevance of any stakeholder in the party. Rather, as loyal party faithful, members of the forum remain committed to that pristine practice that was intended to guarantee order, eliminate conflicting centres of loyalty epitomised by the situation in Rivers State and guard against distracting the governor in the prosecution of his mandate. Wike benefitted wholly from that arrangement.”

The governors said they were “irrevocably committed” to working with the party’s National Working Committee “in ensuring that Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State is conferred with all the privileges he is entitled to as a governor elected on the platform of our party, both at the state and national levels.”

They stressed the need for the NWC to do the right thing and resolve the political crisis in Rivers State.

It added “It is crucial for all party members, including Wike, to work together towards common goals rather than pursuing personal vendettas.

“The forum insists that it is incumbent on the National Working Committee of the PDP to invoke both official provisions and unofficial good offices platforms to find an amicable solution to the crisis in its Rivers State chapter.

“Similarly, if indeed the larger interests of Rivers State is their individual motivation, the warring parties should allow themselves to be guided by a spirit of give and take and eschewing, at all times, the incendiary posturing that inflames passions among their followers.

“It is inevitable for us to encourage dialogue and reconciliation continuously. The PDP has established mechanisms for addressing grievances and resolving conflicts, such as the recently constituted disciplinary and reconciliation committees; thus it is important for Wike to engage with these processes constructively, as dialogue and reconciliation are the pathways to resolving differences and strengthening the party.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Kaduna State PDP, Hassan Hyat, has cautioned Wike against destroying the party he helped to build.

Hyat, a former Minister of Aviation, made the appeal in an interview with our correspondent in Kaduna on Tuesday, stating that Wike’s threat to PDP governors was “strange and unhelpful.”

“Wike should remember that when he was a governor, his colleagues always had his back and protected each other. Nothing has changed in that regard. Instead of telling governors to stay away, Wike should have seen it from this perspective and sought their support.

“I strongly believe it’s wrong to tell people to stay away when a system they are meant to benefit from is under threat. If the system fails, everyone loses. I don’t think it is right to say or do something that could lead to such an outcome,” Hyat said.