Rivers: Clark Hails Assurance of Tinubu’s Neutrality, Insists He Must Help End Crisis

•Youths protest, commend police intervention

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Elderstatesman and foremost Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday, described as a welcome development, the assurance by the presidency that President Bola Tinubu would remain neutral in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.

Yet, in another breath, he called on the president to tread the path of great honour as a self-professed democrat and bring the very troubling situation in the state to an end. 

Special Adviser on Media to the President, Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, had in an interview aired on TVC on Saturday, 11th May, 2024, had disclosed president’s position on the matter.

He said, “I believe that anyone, who believes that by their actions, whether it’s from the federal level, state level or the legislative branch in the state or the legislative branch in the state or the executive branch in the state, if they are banking on Mr. President to take sides on this matter, they are mistaking and they will be disappointed.”

Thus, Clark, in a statement, yesterday, expressed confidence that the presidency’s clarification would end the crisis in the oil-rich Niger Delta State.

“I wish to congratulate you (Tinubu) for your prompt action taken by the presidency to douse the political tension in Rivers State. It (Presidency’s clarification) has been warmly received by Nigerians, particularly in Rivers State.

“The crisis, no doubt, will gradually die down if the statement is upheld by the presidency, and it will enable us to face the security problem in other part of the country,” he said.

Clark, in his statement said, Tinubu has done the best thing by maintaining neutrality in the entire saga.

He said, “Your Excellency, you have done what was expected as the father and President of Nigeria, we are all happy to note that with the statesmanship statement from the presidency, the tension in Rivers State is gradually dying down and the peace and good governance is returning to Rivers State.

“Mr. President, we all know you as an experience and matured politician and historically, you have bravely passed through this way before when democracy was introduced in 1999, and therefore Mr. President, knows what I am talking about.

“Specifically, I am calling on you to tread the path of great honour as a self-professed democrat in bringing the very troubling situation in Rivers State to an immediate end. 

“This is because not doing so will appear as the proverbial Caesar sitting on his oars when Rome was burning.  Let me remind you that the situation in Rivers State is like a banana peel and if nothing is done early, could engulf everywhere.  

“Once again, I want to express on behalf of our people in the south-south our profound gratitude and appreciation for the patriotic and authoritative release from the Presidency concerning the present situation in Rivers State.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of youths in Rivers State yesterday, took to the streets in support of the State Police Command for occupying the 23 local government secretariats in the state.

Led by the National Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Rivers State chapter, the youths under the leadership of Nwisabari Bani, said the barricading of the secretariats by the police has prevented hoodlums from vandalising the facilities.

Speaking during the solidarity march to the Police Command Headquarters, on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, Bani urged the police to remain in the local government secretariats pending the decision of the Appeal Court the state political matters before it.