In a recent interview with African Independent Television (AIT), Chief Edwin Clark, a prominent South South leader and former Federal Commissioner for Information, delivered a stern message to key political figures in Rivers State, urging them to prioritize governance over personal conflicts.
Clark directed his remarks particularly towards the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Nyesom Wike, advising him to maintain his focus on matters concerning the nation’s capital.
He emphasized that Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, should refrain from entangling himself in the affairs of Rivers State, particularly involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the people of the state.
During the interview commemorating his 97th birthday and featuring a documentary on his life and achievements, Clark accused former Rivers State governor and immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, along with his successor, of orchestrating what he described as “politics of madness” in Rivers State.
He condemned what he perceived as the dominance of godfatherism in Nigerian politics, stressing the need for a departure from such practices for the advancement of democracy and national development.
Responding to questions about reconciling Governor Wike and Siminalayi Fubara, Clark dismissed the notion of a quarrel necessitating reconciliation.
He attributed the discord to what he termed “egocentricism” and conflicting ideologies on governance and loyalty.
Clark highlighted the struggle between those demanding unwavering loyalty and those asserting independence, saying that no man should be worshiped over God.
Clark’s statements underscore a broader call for political maturity and a focus on governance rather than personal or political vendettas, echoing concerns about the state of democracy and leadership in Nigeria.
He said, “Who made you Governor of Rivers State? Today you don’t want to see the man? He wrote about Peter Odili but later he said that if he does anything against Odili, God should kill him.
“Then, Amaechi made him Chief of Staff. When he quarreled with him, Ameachi now recommended him to be appointed Minister, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo agreed. But what happened? One day … he got five members of the Rivers State House of Assembly; I have their names here, to impeach the speaker, one Otelemaba Amachreee. Then to later impeach, the governor, Rotimi Ameachi. There was a free-for-all fight. The mace was broken. One of the members called Chidi, not somebody with a part of the mace. That man had to be flown abroad for treatment. Amaechi then closed the House of Assembly for one year. So that’s Wike’s work.
“Politics of madness in Rivers State was started by Wike and Ameachi. They don’t care about other people. So, there is no way. Wike should stay in Abuja to do his job. Let the young man rule his place.
“What are you going to settle them for? Were they quarreling? What are you settling them for? People said Wike made Fubara governor, yes, that is true. The man has acknowledged it. But he says, I can’t worship a human being. I will worship God to show appreciation. But Wike said that worship God through me. The man said no. That is the problem they have.”
Speaking on the Rivers State House of Assembly members who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Clark said, “So, as far as I’m concerned, it will ease out. And this is tied to what you said about INEC. INEC is not doing its job. The constitution is clear. There’s a legal advisor in the INEC office secretariat.
“When such vacancies are created like this, they have to take action to conduct elections within 90 days to fill those vacant places, which they have not done. These are some of their failings.
When questioned about his legacy, Clark expressed his desire to be remembered as a leading Nigerian who staunchly believed in unity and equality for all citizens.
He emphasized his belief that no individual in Nigeria should be considered superior to others. Additionally, he extended a plea for forgiveness from anyone he may have inadvertently offended during his career and life’s journey.
Clark said, “It must come from a home to be a Nigerian. So, as far as I remember, number one, I am one of the oldest statesmen in Nigeria. I was very happy when His Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, during my book launch, Brutally Frank, asked everybody to stand up. General Yakubu Gowon, former President Goodluck Jonathan, among others were all there. He said, everybody should stand up. The Ooni said that Chief Clark is our Baba, he is our nationalist, a national figure. So, what honour would be more than that?
“So, I want to be remembered for the role I played in Nigeria, and an appeal to those that during these 70 something years of my service to my country, those that I do not know that I have offended, to forgive me.
“But I want to be remembered as a foremost Nigerian who believed in Nigeria, who believed in equality in this country, who believed that no one in Nigeria should be regarded as a superior person against the other. Everybody should be equal.
“That is the Nigerian I want to be remembered for that. I contributed to that, which I did, because during the civil war, all the teachers and other workers from the South West or South East, South-South, left the North. There were no teachers, there was nobody. I was then the Commissioner for Education, I was appointed by Brigadier General Samuel Ogbemudia, we supplied Kano State 250 teachers free of charge, they don’t pay out. Audu Bako was the governor. They got integrated in Kano.
“We gave North West, Sokoto the headquarters, 200 teachers; when Alhaji Shehu Shagari was Commissioner for Education in Sokoto, North Western State. They didn’t treat them well, then the people returned home.
“We gave science teachers to the rest of the states. We had an exchange of students, with North East, in Maiduguri.
“And the other day, during the COVID-19, I got a call that the Minister of Education Adamu Adamu was coming to visit me. So he came. And he sat down somewhere, because of the COVID. Then he was saying, have you forgotten your pension? He said, exchange of students? I said, yes, yes, I remember. One of my daughters said he was one of those who finished up in Government College in Maiduguri.
“He said, yes, myself, I was sent to Edo College, where I did my HSC. And he used to come and talk to us. I said, come and sit by me. That’s all I wanted.
“When the war was over, Gen. Yakubu Gowon said, I don’t need any congratulations, that there was no victor, no vanquished because it was a family war. Go and help them to reintegrate, to reconcile and we have a station, which we did. My eldest daughter, Rebecca, was in Class 2 in St. Theresa School Ughelli. I removed her from Ughelli and took her to Enugu to go and study with them and see and suffer with them, supplied them desk. Government supplied Queen’s School, Enugu, Okanagan Grammar School, Enugu, with furnished teacher’s quarters in Nsukka, 10.
“So what am I saying? I’ve been in Nigeria. And I challenge anybody who says, Chief Clark was such and such, no way.
“I kicked against corruption because I know it’s one of those things eating Nigeria. I will be remembered for my role in education. When I was 85, I asked myself, what do I do? I must leave a legacy behind.
“Shouting on top of my voice is not enough. I said I want to establish a private University where children from all over the country will come to my village, live together, study together, and grow up together to be good citizens of their country and already, that is happening.”
The interview with Chief Edwin Clark on AIT has sparked discussions about the future of political dynamics in Rivers State and Nigeria at large, as stakeholders consider his remarks on leadership, governance, and the path forward for sustainable democratic practices.