Former minister of information, Chief Edwin Clark, has revealed that prominent politicians including former president Goodluck Jonathan, former Rivers State governors Peter Odili and Rotimi Amaechi responsible for Nyesom Wike’s rise in politics, are no longer on talking terms with the FCT minister.
He made the disclosure on Sunday in an open letter to Rivers politician, Senator George Sekibo.
In the letter, the 97-year-old leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) chronicled his role and those of other prominent Ijaw leaders in the politics of Rivers State, the South and how the tribe supported Wike to become the governor of Rivers State.
In the letter, he sought to correct the alleged misgivings by Sekibo who the elder statesman said had claimed was presenting the Ijaws as wanting Wike to bow to them.
Noting that he wanted to put things in their proper perspective, Clark stated:
“In my over 70 years in public life. I have been a crusader for what is true, right and just. It is too late for me at this stage to withdraw from my commitment and will continue to fight for justice and the rule of law in Rivers State.
“I would therefore advise you as a politician still in your prime to learn to follow the right causes and learn from history.
“If anything, Wike owes his political life to about four people. Sen. John Mbata and Sen. Andrew Uchendu (who recommended him to Sir Peter Odili to be made Local Government Chairman), Sir Peter Odili, Chief Rotimi Amaechi and above all these people, Mrs. Patience Jonathan and her husband, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
“Unfortunately, today, all of these eminent persons that fed him are no longer on talking terms with him.”
Clark said to Sekibo: “My dear son, the Ijaws have made sacrifices for the survival of, and growth of all tribes in Rivers State, including Barr. Nyesom Wike, without expecting the beneficiaries of such Ijaw kind gestures to be excessively sublime towards them, or expect them to lay on the ground for Ijaws to step on them.
“Nyesom Wike knows, that aside from God, the biggest players who have supported him to rise to his political level today, are the Ijaws, including myself.
“I am sure he knows the roles I have played in his political ascendency. There is, therefore, no need to be apologetic to Barr. Nyesom Wike, when there is no offence.”
He recalled that after several election circles where Ijaws were bypassed for Rivers governor, they insisted that an Ijaw must take the post in 2015 but President Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience, appealed on behalf of Wike.
Clark explained: “All Ijaw people under the leadership of four times Minister, Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas insisted for an Ijaw man to take the lead. This was only fair and just and so many Ijaw sons and daughters with all manners of qualifications presented themselves. Almost all of them had held top positions, both at the state and federal levels. None doubted the fact that it was the turn of an Ijaw man.
“Therefore, when the then First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, sent Barr. Nyesom Wike to me to intimate me of his ambition, and solicit my support, I did not give it because I felt it was against the laws of fairness and natural justice. I insisted that it was unfair and unsellable for another upland person to be Governor again, immediately after three upland persons in succession.
“The next visit to my house was by some Ijaw chiefs from Rivers State including His Excellency Chief Rufus Ada George, former Governor of the State, Chief A. K. Horsfall, former Managing Director, OMPADEC, and former DG, DSS/NIA, and HRH E. M. B Opurum, Onyi ishi Etche. They insisted that President Jonathan should be invited to the meeting. “Fortunately, he responded to my call and joined. At that occasion, they emphasised that it would be very unfair for them being the majority to be shut out for a period of 16 years and another Ikwere man taking power to make it 24 years.
“President Jonathan pleaded and pleaded with us that we needed to give Wike a chance during an election year in which he was seeking to return to office at the centre.
“However, Barr. Wike was supported by the then President Jonathan and his wife. Although this was a shock to the entire Ijaw people in Rivers State and in all the other states, for the sake of peace, we supported Wike to contest the election.”
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