Rivers Crisis: How Jonathan, Wife, Others Imposed Wike As Governor, Edwin Clark Speaks

• Ijaw leader Edwin Clark has waded into the current political crisis in Rivers state involving Nyesom Wike and his political godson, Governor Siminalayi Fubara
• Clark made a stunning revelation about the crisis and urged the senator who represented Rivers East senatorial district, George Sekibo, to be cautious about his comments on Wike and Fubara's feud
• The elder statesman gave the advice in an open letter to the senator, which was also sent to President Tinubu, SGF George Akume, and Fubara

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Edwin Clark, a south-south leader, has opened up about Nyesom Wike emerging as the governor of River state.

The Ijaw leader disclosed that in 2015, after the tenure of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state, former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience, pleaded with the people of the state, in addition to those outside the state, to support Nyesom Wike for governorship. However, it was the turn of the people of Ijaw.

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According to the elder statesman, aside from God, the most prominent players who supported Wike to rise to his political level today were the Ijaws, including himself, Vanguard reported.

Clark: Wike benefitted from Ijaw people in 2015

He added that as Amaechi’s government ended in 2015 after eight years, the Rivers Ijaws again insisted it was their turn to take over governance in Rivers state. This time, the consensus was general among the people.

Speaking further, he noted that former President Jonathan pleaded with the Ijaws that they needed to give Wike a chance during an election year in which he sought to return to the office at the centre.

Clark noted that it was a shock to the entire Ijaw people in Rivers state and all the other states, but they had to soft-pedal and support Wike to contest out of respect for Jonathan and his wife and for the sake of peace. At that time, Wike’s highest position before coming to Abuja was as local government chairman and later Chief of Staff to Amaechi, his kinsman.

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Rivers crisis: "Wike is a sleeping tiger", Governor Fubara warned

The prominent Ijaw leader, made this revelation on Sunday, June 9, as he cautioned the senator who represented Rivers East Senatorial District in the 9th Senate, George Sekibo, to be cautious about his comments on the current political crisis in the oil-rich state, ThisDay reported.

Rivers crisis: Edwin Clark speaks on Tinubu's peace deal

Legit.ng reported earlier that Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, condemned the terms of the resolution of the feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Nyesom Wike.

The elder statesman said the resolution is unacceptable, particularly to the Ijaw ethnic nationality.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng