The leader of the Ijaw nation, Chief Edwin Clark, has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for threatening to set fire to states governed by Peoples Democratic Party governors.
Wike, speaking at the PDP secretariat in Port Harcourt during the party’s state congress on Saturday, 31st August 2024, warned PDP governors to stay out of the party’s affairs in Rivers State.
In a press conference on Thursday, Clark condemned Wike’s comments as a “flagrant disrespect” to President Bola Tinubu, who appointed him, and as a “threat to public peace.” He described Wike’s remarks as “unbridled” and a violation of the Constitution, urging the Inspector General to issue an arrest warrant.
He stated, “Wike has violated several public laws. His threat to burn states governed by PDP is treasonable. No governor or minister has the authority to go to such extremes—it’s a breach of the Constitution.”
Clark further accused Wike of acting as though “the only person above him is the President,” and emphasised that the minister should not be allowed to escape legal consequences. He urged Egbetokun to take action in the interest of the country, cautioning against letting personal relationships undermine Nigeria’s Constitution.
The elder statesman also drew comparisons with the arrest of African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore and #EndBadGovernance protesters, asserting that Wike should be held to the same standard and be compelled to retract his inflammatory statements.
Clark added, “Was it Sowore who committed treason by calling for revolution? What impact did it have? Yet here is a serving minister, threatening to burn states and disrupt governance.”
