A well-known Ijaw elder named Chief Edwin Clark has reportedly demanded that Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, be taken into custody right away, according to The Nation. Clark’s demand comes in response to a recent statement attributed to Wike, in which the governor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is said to have threatened to “put fire” in any state where the PDP interferes with Rivers PDP’s internal matters. Clark has taken strong offense at the comment, seeing it as a call to violence and a danger to democratic processes.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
In response, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, a close ally of Wike and the ousted Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, labeled Clark a hypocrite. Lloyd dismissed Clark’s remarks, accusing him of pursuing personal interests under the guise of political commentary. According to Lloyd, Clark’s criticism is rooted in ignorance of the figurative nature of Wike’s statement. He questioned Clark’s credibility, noting that the elder statesman once served as Minister of Information but has, in Lloyd’s opinion, failed to grasp the subtleties of political discourse.
Lloyd further criticized Clark’s position within the PDP, describing him as a non-member of the party. He recalled that during the primaries for the Rivers State governorship, Clark had opposed the candidacy of Governor Fubara, questioning his Ijaw identity. Lloyd suggested that Clark’s recent comments are part of a broader pattern of behavior aimed at undermining leaders from the region who do not align with his views.
Lloyd went on to accuse Clark of harboring delusions of grandeur, likening his attitude to that of a self-proclaimed political leader of the Niger Delta. He claimed that Clark’s statements were motivated by personal gain, referring to them as attempts to protect what he termed “stomach infrastructure” a euphemism for financial self-interest.
Moreover, Lloyd suggested that Clark and other leaders from the Niger Delta are envious of Wike’s political foresight. He argued that Wike’s decision to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 election was a strategic move that has since been validated. According to Lloyd, Wike has gained significant support from the Tinubu administration, which has empowered him to pursue his vision for the Federal Capital Territory.
He said: “This was the same thing he did to Jonathan. Why will an old man be investing in the politics of stomach infrastructure. When in 2023 we did our primaries, Clark knocked Fubara and said he was not a true Ijaw man. Facts are sacred.
“He should bother himself with what the governors of the Niger Delta are doing? He should ask Sheriff what he is doing with all the money that he is receiving. He should ask Governor Sim what he is doing and leave Wike alone. Wike is doing his bid.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
