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Tag: Edwin Clark

  • Atiku, El-rufai and that Condolence Campaign

    Atiku, El-rufai and that Condolence Campaign

    By Eshio Imafido

    Former vice president Atiku Abubakar, a man who has made a career out of presidential ambitions, and Nasir El-Rufai, a political maverick with a penchant for controversy, on Friday, after a Juma’at prayer, made their ways to late Edwin Clark’s home to pay a condolence visit to the deceased family where they eventually won the media space of the week, taking over from the backlashes that trailed IBB’s book launch.

    Armed with a team of media personnel, seemingly for the show, they turned the condolence visit into a campaign rally. El-Rufai, ever the willing pawn, took the centre stage, his words laced with the kind of insincerity that has come to define Nigerian politics. He spoke not of the legacy of Chief Edwin Clark, not of his contributions to the nation – I have yet to see or read any tribute from him to the late elder statesman even on his social media handle as of the time of writing – but of Atiku’s paperback achievements during the Obasanjo’s administration.

    It was a performance so shameless, so devoid of empathy, that it could only be described as a slap in the face of the grieving Clark family and a spit on the dignity of a man who spent his life fighting for justice and haven’t been laid to rest. Even in the mafia world, there exists a code, a thread of decency that binds even the most cunning of minds when one of their dead is being mourned. They understand that some lines must not be crossed.

    The newly forged alliance between Nasir El-Rufai and Atiku Abubakar comes as no surprise to many Nigerians, as such political maneuvering has become a hallmark of the country’s political landscape. Most Nigerian politicians are notorious for their ideological flexibility- they champion one stance today only to pivot to its opposite tomorrow. This calculated realignment underscores the transactional nature of Nigerian politics, where alliances are driven more by expediency than principle.

    El-Rufai, whose influence in his party the APC and home state, Kaduna have waned, and Atiku, whose influence in the PDP has naturally eluded him as evidence in the avalanches of internal crises that have brought the party almost to its knees, appear to be driven more by personal political ambitions. Their reunion, born out of apparent frustration, underscores the lengths to which political actors may go to reclaim relevance, often without due consideration of the long-term implications of their actions.

    The show at late Chief Clark’s house exemplified the theatre of Nigerian politics, where the stage is perpetually set for farce and tragedy, the actors often forget their lines, the audience is left in despair, and the script is rewritten to suit the whims of the most brazen. The Nigerian political class can stoop in their relentless pursuit of power. It is a tale of moral bankruptcy, a metaphor for the rot that has eaten deep into the fabric of our nation, and a stark illustration of how the sacred is often desecrated on the altar of selfish ambition.

    Chief Edwin Clark, a colossus of the Niger Delta and a tireless advocate for justice and equity, was a man who deserved to be mourned with dignity. His passing was a moment for national reflection, a time to honour a life spent in service to the marginalised and the voiceless. But in Nigeria, even death is not sacred. It is but another opportunity for politicians to grandstand, to manipulate, and to exploit. And so, what should have been a solemn occasion became a carnival of self-interest, a macabre dance of political opportunism that left Nigerians aghast.

    “Nobody gives Atiku Abubakar the credit for economic policy-making under the Obasanjo administration,” El-Rufai declared, as if the living room of a bereaved family was the appropriate venue for such self-serving propaganda. The irony was lost on him, as it often is on men who have long abandoned the principles they once claimed to uphold. Here was a man, Atiku, who has spent decades positioning himself as a leader, yet in a moment that called for humility and respect, he stood by silently as his surrogate turned a sacred occasion into a political spectacle. It was a betrayal not just of the Clark family, but of the values that Chief Edwin Clark stood for.

    But the irony runs deeper. This was an El-Rufai, who in his book, Accidental Public Servant, had painted a damning portrait of Atiku, accusing him of playing a central role in the shameful privatisation of government assets during the Obasanjo administration. He wrote of Atiku’s alleged greed, his manipulation of power, and his role in what many consider one of the most controversial periods in Nigeria’s economic history. El-Rufai’s book was a scathing indictment of Atiku’s character, a litany of accusations that painted him as a man more interested in personal gain than public service. Yet, here was El-Rufai, years later, standing in the home of a deceased national icon, singing Atiku’s praises as if the past had been erased, as if the words in his book had never been written.

    El-Rufai once again displayed his trademark lack of logical reasoning when he lamented that Nigerians only focus on the negative aspects of Atiku. Ironically, his own book is a glaring contradiction to this claim, as he conveniently omitted any favourable mention of Atiku whatsoever. Such blatant hypocrisy and double standards are precisely why politicians like him struggle to be taken seriously. Who, in their right mind, would trust or respect someone who flip-flop so shamelessly, exposing their own lack of integrity with every word they utter?

    This overnight transformation of El-Rufai from Atiku’s critic to his chief spokesperson is not just hypocritical; it is a shameful tale about the transactional nature of Nigerian politics- that in the pursuit of power, principles are often the first casualty. El-Rufai, a man who once positioned himself as a reformer, a man of integrity, has now become a willing pawn in Atiku’s political chess game.

    What happened in Clark’s home was not an aberration; it was a microcosm of the moral decay that plagues Nigeria’s political class. It only reinforced the believe among the public that for many of our so-called leaders, power is not a means to serve, but an end in itself. They are like vultures, circling above the carcass of a nation, waiting to pick at the bones.

    Chief Edwin Clark was a man of integrity, a voice of reason in a nation often bereft of both. He fought for the Niger Delta, for the rights of the oppressed, and for a Nigeria where justice and equity were not just slogans, but realities. His death should have been a moment for unity, for reflection, for honouring a legacy that transcended politics. Instead, it became a stage for the kind of political theatre that has come to define Nigeria: a theatre of the absurd, where the actors are clowns, the script is a farce, and the audience is left to wonder if there will ever be a happy ending.

    To Atiku and El-Rufai, we say this: Your actions have exposed the emptiness of your rhetoric and the hollowness of your promises. You have shown us that for you, politics is not about service, but about self. You have turned a moment of mourning into a campaign rally, and in doing so, you have insulted not just the memory of Chief Edwin Clark, but the intelligence of every Nigerian who still believes in the possibility of a better nation. History will judge you harshly for this, and the Nigerian people will not forget.

    Let us rise as one to condemn this act, to demand better from those who aspire to lead us, and to reclaim the values that Chief Edwin Clark held dear. For if we do not, we risk becoming a nation that has lost its soul, a nation where the sacred is always desecrated, and where the memory of our heroes is trampled underfoot by the very people who claim to lead us. The time to act is now. The time to demand accountability is now. The time to honour the legacy of Chief Edwin Clark is now. Anything less would be a betrayal of everything he stood for.

  • Lai Mohammed must be prosecuted over fake news on Peter Obi – Edwin Clark

    Lai Mohammed must be prosecuted over fake news on Peter Obi – Edwin Clark

    Former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark has called on the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN to as a matter of urgency, ‘’prosecute” the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed for ‘’spreading fake news against the Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Gregory Obi,” on the February 25th election.

    In a statement titled, “LAI MOHAMMED MINISTER OF INFORMATION SHOULD BE PROSECUTED FOR SPREADING FAKE NEWS AGAINST THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OF LABOUR PARTY MR PETER GREGORY OBI” and released today April 9, Clark said that it has become very clear that the Minister of Information has ‘’constituted himself to become the mastermind and disseminator of fake news” and the only option now is for Malami to carry out a holistic investigation of his activities and charge him to court.

    Recall that Mohammed, while addressing some international media organizations and groups in Washington DC on the 2023 general elections last week, accused Obi of treason. He told his audience that Obi was promoting insurrection in Nigeria by inciting people to violence over the outcome of the February 25 presidential elections.

    Reacting to Mohammed’s comment, Edwin Clarke in his statement said it is highly hypocritical within government circles today that statements being made to ensure that there is the diligent dispensation of justice with regard to the largely flawed 2023 elections that did not threaten the existence of the country is being tagged treasonable, adding that ‘’the more regrettable aspect of it is that an innocent stakeholder in the person of Peter Obi who has not uttered a word was being mischievously dragged in.”

    The former Federal Commissioner for Information said that rather than mention the names of those who have been raising this question about interim government, Mohammed dragged the name of Obi ‘’who has been totally silent on the subject matter if not for cheap political gain.”

    Read his full statement below…

    “It is clear therefore that the Minister of Information has constituted himself to become the mastermind and disseminator of fake news. This leaves us with no option but to call on the Attorney General of the nation to undertake a thorough investigation of the activities of the Minister and charge him to court. Lai Mohammed as Information Minister and chief propagandist of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Government was cut to size and became very uncomfortable for the growing popularity of Mr Peter Obi’s appeal to the exuberant Nigeria youths who practically demonstrated their support for Mr Peter Obi and the obedient that came in droves to take back their country.

    The impression that gained ground at the time was that Obi was only popular on social media and not on the ground, but Obi’s performance within the short time he entered the race made him the man of the moment in the presidential election. Lai Mohammed therefore in his usual characteristics carried fake news within and outside Nigeria to discredit and tarnish the reputation of Mr Peter Obi.

    It is criminal, unpatriotic and wicked for anyone to draw the name of Mr Peter Obi who fully participated in the 2023 Presidential Election and who has gone to court to express his dissatisfaction with the outcome of the presidential election and his popularity which has spread to all part of the country as a wildfire has no doubt caused a great embarrassment to the Federal Government.

    What is being alleged as a discovery of a plot to overthrow the Federal Government by DSS is malicious and untrue.

    One cannot help but note that Lai Mohammed’s actions are targeted against perceived political opponents and enemies. I wish to strongly advise Mr President to call his spokesmen to order. The nation is already too tensed; those whose responsibility it is to douse the tension should not be the ones stoking the embers of a fire that will flame up the country.”

    “Lai Mohammed as Minister of Information of the country, for the eight years now, since the inception of President Buhari’s Government, rather than uniting the country as his job implies, by creating an atmosphere for Nigerians to live together as brothers and sisters of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has instead, caused divisions in the country.

    I had on several occasions condemned this conduct of his attempting to suppress, gag and intimidate the press. He has used the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), as an agent of his Ministry. NBC is no longer the independent organisation which it used to be, treating the press as a noble profession, made up of noble practitioners. A case in point is the five million naira fine slammed on Channels Television without even the rudiments of natural justice, in this case, a fair hearing, which is a basic procedure of justice to ensure fairness. Rather, slamming media houses with fines without hearing from the media houses, is the trial that has now become a constant weapon of intimidation and harassment of the press.

    Lai Mohammed, as his duty as Minister of Information entails, who ought to treat the media as the fourth estate of the realm, as it is done all over the world, in civilised places, has rather decided to wear the “oga” toga. The media is very critical and plays a very important role in any democratic setup. And any responsible government should bear this in mind. This fact was not lost on me when I was appointed to that position during the General Yakubu Gowon administration. Even though it was a military government, I understood that as “spokes person” of the country at the time, whatever I said or did, could either make or mar the unity, peace and oneness of the country. That was my guiding principle. And without being immodest, I think it paid positively. I reproduce here what General Yakubu Gowon the Head of State has this to say about the role I played in his Government; ‘EK’s commendable performance in Benin made him my first choice for Federal Commissioner for Information replacing his colleague Chief Anthony Enahoro, who had vacated the post in 1974. Colonel Ogbemudia released Chief E.K . Clark from his post and E K soon stepped into the large shoes left behind by Chief Anthony Enahoro. E K quickly settled into Lagos and the role displayed mettle and competence by embarking on a vast schedule of publicity and information programs that he felt were vital and important. Included within EK’s plans were programs for post-war healing, restoration of national and mental trust and confidence and a bold future economic development plan from 1975-1980. EK was dutiful, loyal and patriotic in his role as Federal Commissioner of Information. I will always be grateful to EK for its commitment to myself and my government”.

    One of my priority assignments at the time was to make the press know their country. What was the use of talking about a place, as a pressman/woman, if you do not know anything about the place? How do you produce a balanced reportage? For instance, because there is no use talking about Kano, Kaduna or Enugu, without knowing these places, I took the pressmen on a plane to various parts of the country for them to know their country. During this period we ate and drank together and visited various parts together. With all modesty again, I wish to state that even though my tenure was short, I made remarkable progress in bringing the government to the people.

    So, for me to see what Lai Mohammed is doing with the office today is disappointing. His recent sojourn to the United States of America (USA), on the issue of Interim National Government (ING), to damage the reputation of Mr Peter Obi’s rising profile, to me, is an effort in futility, because Lai Mohammed did not base his accusations on any report or information given by any state agency, but on mere propaganda targeted at destroying the reputation of an innocent citizen.

    If I may continue further, why will the Minister of Information take more than usual interest in not only scandalizing and lying against Peter Obi but using his privileged position to circulate the same to the country and the entire world? If we were to talk further about those who have held strong positions against the current political situation in the country; why has the Minister avoided taking notes of the views of other persons such as our respected elder statesman and colleague Chief Afe Babalola who stated thus as supported by Premium Times online news of April 18th 2022; By April 2022, Nigeria was actually facing a crisis of all dimensions economically, insecurity corruption, and lack of direction. Because there was no courageous, competent Nigerian leader, and the question was, where do we go from here?

    There were very few politicians in the corridor of power who believe that the Buhari administration has performed exceedingly well. It was during this period of uncertainty that many Nigerians came out patriotically, felt they should speak out, even though they were not partisan politicians, and one of those is Chief Afe Babalola, an honest and self-made Nigerian, it was during this period he made an honest and sincere contribution, and that it may be difficult to have free, fair and credible elections. It was at this juncture of a failing Nigeria that he suggested that Nigeria should have an interim national Government.

    I have known Chief Afe Babalola for a very long time, we were both in NPN, he was one of the leading counsels, and I still remember when I accompanied him as an NPN counsel to prosecute the case involving Alhaji Balarabe Musa. At this Juncture, I will like to reproduce his statement on the Interim National Government.

    Legal icon and elder statesman, Afe Babalola, says an interim government should replace the current administration at the expiration of President Muhammed Buhari’s tenure in 2023”. Mr Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University, told a news conference in Ado-Ekiti on Monday that the interim government should be in office for six months to chart a new course for Nigeria. The legal icon had come under severe fire from a cross section of Nigerians for his controversial position, including the Governor of Imo State, Mr Hope Uzodinma, who noted that the call was an invitation for anarchy”.

    One of the proponent of the interim Government is Rev. Chris Okotie, and even today being Easter Sunday, he spoke extensively about it. Bola Ahmed Tinubu also in one occasion said that cabals plan to disrupt 2023 elections, introduce interim government; stated in the People Gazette News of 4th February 2023 which I reproduce here under; Bola Tinubu says there are plots by powerful forces in government to use violence to disrupt the 2023 general elections and impose an interim government. ‘They want to provoke you to violence, so that election will be disrupted and postponed, and they can cunningly introduce an interim government, that’s their plot. But this will backfire because we are wiser,” Mr Tinubu said. The former Lagos governor and presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) made this statement while speaking at a rally in Ekiti on Friday. This comes two weeks after Mr Tinubu accused the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari of using the fuel and naira scarcity to sabotage his presidential bid. His media aides would later deny, saying that the verbal attack in Abeokuta was not targetted at Mr Buhari. Like Mr. Tinubu, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna also said the cabal in Mr. Buhari regime are plotting to ensure Mr. Tinubu fails in the February 25 presidential election. However, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disputed the assertion, saying Mr. Buhari was in support of the APC presidential candidate.

    “Even within Government circles, this subject of interim government was discussed in the open by Senior Special assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu recently on 17th February 2023 in which he debunked such plot and I reproduce hereunder;

    The Presidency on Friday said there are no plans by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to extend his government beyond May 29, 2023, or install an interim government.

    “Let us clearly, specifically and emphatically state that there is absolutely no truth to the claim that President Muhammadu Buhari is working towards an interim government or even worse, the truncation of democracy- democracy that he has helped to keep alive not only here at home, in West Africa but throughout the continent,” a statement signed by Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu read on Friday.

    According to Shehu, the talk of an interim government and truncation of democracy is way off the mark.

    “Those who peddle it stand to gain nothing—nothing at all—but the creation of panic and the incitement of the public against the federal government,” the statement read.

    It described the narrative as a dangerous dimension by “people who are afraid that they may lose their elections.”

    “Indeed, since this fourth Republic which we have since 1999, other national leaders have said more serious and what may even be regarded as incediary statements in the course of the elections. This forced me on 9th May, 2015 to write a letter to the then Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal in reaction to a Motion that came up at the floor of the House. At that time, some members of the House had in a selective manner, insisted that Alhaji Muhajideen Asari Dokubo and one Kingsley Kuku should be investigated over statements that they made. However, as I noted in that letter, several threats were made to the survival of this country including by such persons as Alhaji LawalKaita who at the time was over 80 years and a former Governor of Kaduna State stated among other things, “the north is determined, if it happens, to make the country ungovernable for President Jonathan or any other southerner who finds his way into the seat of power on the platform of the PDP. Jonathan has to go and he will go. Even if he uses incumbency power to get the nomination from the governors of the PDP, we will frustrate him out.”

    “At another occasion as I stated in my letter to the Speaker, Lawal Kaita was quoted by the African Herald Express that he said in Katisna, “A northerner must emerge in 2015 or Nigeria will divide. We hear rumours all over that Jonathan is planning to contest in 2015, well, the country will be prepared if the country remains one. That is if the country remains, if not everybody can go his way.”

    “Even more troubling, during the same era General Muhammadu Buhari then a candidate for the presidency of this country under CPC stated and I quoted so under my letter to the Speaker “there may be no Nigeria. I draw with Somalia so many times (Somalisation of Nigeria). It was the same line of thought that my friend and former Minister ofFinance and who at a time, also served as Governor or Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam AdamuCiroma stated “like you know, Hausa land was in crisis for over 200 years and God brought UsmandanFodio – – – for me I have no doubt and I have not lost my faith that God can bring someone to clean the mess we are in now.” He made the statement in 2013 when there was a sitting president. Similar statements questioning the existence of the country, directly threatening the office of the President and the occupier of the office during the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan were made by other leaders especially from the north such as National President of Arewa Youth Forum, Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, Public commentator, Farouk Aliyu, and these were widely reported in both the main stream and social media.

    “It is therefore highly hypocritical within government circles today, statement that were being made to ensure that there is diligent dispensation of justice with regard to the largely flawed 2023 elections that didn’t threaten the existence of the country are being tagged treasonable. Even more regrettable is the fact that an innocent stakeholder in the person of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of Labour Party who has not uttered a word is being mischievously dragged in.

    “Moreover, rather than mention the names of those who have been raising this question while dragging the name of Mr. Peter Obi who has been totally silent on the subject matter if not for cheap political gain.

    “Like I said, Lai Mohammed did not base his information on any credible intelligence report from the state agencies, but on propaganda and falsity. Therefore, I am of the opinion that he should be charged for spreading an unhealthy information and fake news against an innocent Nigerian who is very prominent and has proven his worth in the country. Lai Mohammed used the exalted position of the office of the nation’s Ministry of Information to commit this perfidy.

    “Mr. Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the just concluded presidential elections, has never taken the laws into his hands. He is going about his case, in the constitutionally provided way. He was the first to seek redress in court over what he felt was an unfair and unjust manner of conducting elections. It is his constitutional right to do so. Muhammadu Buhari, in the number of times he contested and failed elections, did same. We all know that at no time from the beginning of the current political season did his Excellency Peter Obi the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party make any statement that in whatever manner constituted a breach or threat to the peace and security of this country.

    “The question that Lai Mohammed needs to answer is to tell Nigerians on what platform, at what time and in what manner did Peter Obi make the Supposed treasonable or seditious remarks?

    “Also, Lai Mohammed’s conduct is even more damaging to the Mahammed Buhari’s government.it will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari has stated time and again, that he will handover to a president who will emerge victorious in a free, fair and credible election. It is more disturbing and surprising when one realises that Lai Mohammed is a lawyer and ought to be in a position to give proper professional advice to the Government which he serves on, what the situation of the law is.

    “I for one who found myself as Federal Commissioner for Information a position which he holds today after nearly 50 years. My instincts and training as a lawyer were always brought to bear in the overall interest of the country and the direct duties which I perform. This is the least of standard which we expect him to uphold in the interest of our noble profession.

    “As Lai Mohammed knows well, most Nigerians are today very kin observers of what is going on in the country. We have also continued to watch and followed closely actions, inactions and utterances by the key political actors and their close associates. It is therefore totally unacceptable that a minister in charge of a sensitive government department as dissemination of Information should constitute himself to become the purveyor of false information, innuendos and even fake news.

    “It is clear therefore that the Minister of Information has constituted himself to become the mastermind and disseminator of fake news. This leaves us with no option than to call on the Attorney General of the nation to undertake thorough investigation of the activities of the Minister and charge him to court.

    “Lai Mohammed as Information Minister and chief propagandist of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Government was cut to size and became very uncomfortable for the growing popularity of Mr. Peter Obi’s appeal to the exuberant Nigeria youths who practically demonstrated their support for Mr. Peter Obi and the obedient that came in droves to take back their country.

    “The impression that gained ground at the time was that Obi was only popular on social media and not on ground, but Obi’s performance within the short time he entered the race made him the man of the moment in the presidential election. Lai Mohammed therefore in his usual characteristics carried fake news within and outside Nigeria to discredit and tarnish the reputation of Mr. Peter Obi.

    “It is criminal, unpatriotic and wicked for anyone to draw the name of Mr. Peter Obi who fully participated in the 2023 Presidential Election and who has gone to court to express his dissatisfaction with the outcome of the presidential election and his popularity which has spread to all part of the country as a wildfire has no doubt caused a great embarrassment to the Federal Government.

    What is being alleged as a discovery of a plot to overthrown the Federal Government by DSS is malicious and untrue.

    “Finally, one cannot help but note that Lai Mohammed’s actions are targeted against perceived political opponents and enemies. I wish to strongly advice Mr. President to call his spokesmen to order. The nation is already too tensed; those whose responsibility it is to douse the tension should not be the ones stoking the embers of fire that will flame up the country.”

  • PANDEF berates Okowa over attacks on Clark

    PANDEF berates Okowa over attacks on Clark

    The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has chided the Governor of Delta State and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa for not addressing the issues raised in E.K. Clark’s open letter to him.

    It will be recalled that Clark had last week written an open letter to Okowa accusing him of betraying the south by becoming the running mate to Atiku Abubakar.

    Clark also accused him of neglecting oil-producing communities in Delta state. Okowa was also accused of using monies meant for the development of oil-bearing communities to develop his area which is not an oil-producing community, among other issues.

    But in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ken Robinson, PANDEF berated Okowa for several media attacks against Clark in a bid to avoid answering to the veracity of the issues raised.

    The statement reads in part:

    “As a regional body, that represents the interests of the people of the entire Niger Delta, PANDEF is compelled to note that the responses, on the matter, by Okowa’s Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, and other sycophantic liegemen, are thoughtless and disingenuous.

    “It would even become more worrying if the invectives from the “attack dogs” signify Governor Okowa’s true inner reflections.

    “Amongst other things, the Commissioner for Information, in particular, stated that Chief Clark, at his age, should be a unifier and not bent on dividing the country. That is not only fatuous but nonsensical.

    “For the purpose of correcting Okowa’s messengers, and to set the records right, for future generations, it is necessary to remind Governor Okowa and his misguided aides of some facts.

    “Without doubt, there is no other Nigerian, living or dead, who has played roles to unify this country like Chief E. K. Clark has done.

    “For over 70 years, the respected national leader has continued to play overriding nationalistic roles, which was acknowledged, perhaps unintended, in the Commissioner’s response to Chief’s letter.”

    The statement recalled the role Clark played in the emergence of Atiku as the PDP presidential candidate in 2019 after “Atiku led the marathon gang-up against our son, Dr Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, by championing the formation of the new PDP. Yet Chief Clark stood for him a few years later.”

    PANDEF which gave Okowa, 48 hours to retract and withdraw his attacks on Clark in his own interest, reminded him that “a child that is well brought up does not exchange words with his father when scolded in the public.”

  • Edwin Clark: Why I Endorsed Obi for 2023 Presidency

    Edwin Clark: Why I Endorsed Obi for 2023 Presidency

    Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has endorsed former Anambra state governor, Peter Obi, for President ahead of this year’s general elections.

    Chief Clark announced his endorsement of the Labour Party candidate at a news briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.

    He mentioned traits like honesty, trustworthiness and transparency, which Obi displayed as governor of Anambra state as his reason for pitching his tent with him.

    Chief Clark called on Obi to tackle the issues of the injustices and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region if elected President.

    The Ijaw leader backing is the second high-profile endorsement to be received by Obi in three days.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had also in his New Year homily on January 1 called young Nigerians to vote Obi for President, saying he is the best man to lead Nigeria out of the woods.

  • Obi’s Endorsement: Edwin Clark Has Never Supported APC, Says Keyamo

    Obi’s Endorsement: Edwin Clark Has Never Supported APC, Says Keyamo

    Elder statesman Edwin Clark has never supported the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Presidency since 2015 yet the party won, said the spokesperson for the APC 2023 Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo.

    Keyamo’s response followed Clark’s endorsement of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, ahead of the February 25 presidential election.

    Clark, who is the nonagenarian leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), cited Obi’s honesty, trust and transparency when he was governor of Anambra State.

    He also urged him to tackle the issues of the injustices and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region if elected as President.

    Similarly, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, had also backed Obi for President.

    However, Keyamo dismissed Clark’s endorsement of Obi, saying his support of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in 2019 made no difference as he lost the poll.

    “Same thing I said for OBJ that applies to my respected father, Edwin Clark. These are elders who endorsed Atiku Abubakar in 2019. The votes they gave Atiku in 2019, they have carried those votes to Obi. My father, Edwin Clark HAS NEVER SUPPORTED APC for the Presidency since 2015,” the minister tweeted on Tuesday.

  • Edwin Clark Joins Obasanjo, Endorses Peter Obi For 2023 Presidency

    Edwin Clark Joins Obasanjo, Endorses Peter Obi For 2023 Presidency

    Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has endorsed the candidacy of Mr Peter Obi for the 2023 general elections.

    Chief Clark announced his position at a news briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The elder statesman based his endorsement of Mr Obi, who is the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party on traits he believes are critical to leading the country.

    Explaining further, he cited honesty, trust and transparency, all of which he said Mr Obi displayed when he was governor of Anambra State.

    Chief Clark called on Mr Obi to tackle the issues of the injustices and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region if elected as President.

    The Ijaw leader’s backing is the second high-profile endorsement to be received by Mr Obi in three days.

    Details later…

  • Jonathan is angry with PDP over 2015 betrayal — Clark

    Jonathan is angry with PDP over 2015 betrayal — Clark

    FORMER Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, on Tuesday, gave an insight into why former President Goodluck Jonathan stopped attending meetings of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

    According to Clark, former President Jonathan is angry with his party because of what party members, led by the former National Chairman and past Governor of Bauchi State, Adamu Muazu, did to him when he wanted to be re-elected in 2015.

    Clark noted that PDP leaders from the North worked against Jonathan because, according to them, it was the turn of the North to produce the President.

    He stressed that many of the PDP governors from the North mobilised funds for the then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari, against their own flag bearer.

    The elder statesman and leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, noted that Jonathan had learnt his lesson, which explained why he stopped attending meetings of PDP especially the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party.

    He spoke at his Asokoro residence in Abuja, when he played host to the Delta Central APC Leaders of Thought, DECALT, led by its National Leader, Chief Ominimini Obiuwevbi.

    The leader of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF, lamented that the same northern governors in the PDP, who had rejected zoning, were now talking about competence and integrity in 2022.

    He accused the party of what he described as manipulation leading to the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2023 election.

    Clark said: “Now coming home politically, Jonathan was the President for some time as the result of the death of President Yar’Adua. Jonathan ruled for about five years, he is a Christian and the northerners said it was their turn.

    “From 2011, they have been worrying Jonathan. Even in 2015, the northern PDP leaders ganged up with APC, Tinubu and removed Jonathan from office. They did not campaign, Jonathan was on his own.

    “So, when people say why Jonathan is not in PDP, not attending PDP meetings, I can safely say that he’s learning his lesson that the people he trusted did not trust him.

    “They squandered the party’s money and left.

    “So, when people say why is Jonathan not in PDP, he knows how they betrayed him: how the northern PDP governors contributed money towards Buhari’s success, how members of government betrayed him.

    “The national Chairman of PDP at the time was Governor (Adamu) Mu’azu. He did not go to his hometown to campaign, he was only following Jonathan about.

    “He knew what he was doing. Everyone of them wanted Buhari to win. So, Buhari won. He has ruled for eight years.

    “Now, the same northerners are now saying competence, no zoning, integrity.

    “It fell for the prey, they maneuvered PDP with Alhaji Abubakar who has been wanting to be president of Nigeria over the years, championing the cause of division. So, the PDP, a party we love, PDP a party of southern Nigeria, disappointed us.

    “In 2019, 11 million people voted for Atiku Abubakar (PDP). Five million from the North, five million from the South. Now he doesn’t think that we ever did anything for him.

    “So, Nigeria has change. If anyone tells you that all is well in Nigeria that person living in a fool’s paradise.

    “I’m happy to note that you are members of the ruling party that is APC and I will give you a message to Mr. President, who is the leader of your party.

    “But we are in the minority, but in every society the minority and the majority must live together. We have never seen a community where you have only the majority. If that’s the case amongst them some will become minority.

    “We are the largest ethnic nationality in Delta State, but within you some people are dominating. Because we are alive, we don’t need this society where people are not equal.

    “That’s what Mandela fought for that everybody is equal. People should live in a country where you grow up to do anything God created you do.”

    Clark recalled that when governors of the southern states insisted on zoning the presidency to the South, the SMBLF immediately keyed into it.

    However, he regretted, despite agreement for southerners not to accept the running mate position to any Northern presidential candidate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has been picked as the vice presidential candidate by the PDP even though he hosted one of the governors meeting in Asaba.

    According to the South-South leader, the APC he thought the people of the South-South should have no business with, became the party that listened to the yearnings of the region over zoning and the need for the South to produce the next President come 2023.

    Clark who noted that he would have voted for the ruling APC, but for his age and its decision to fly a Muslim-Muslim Presidential ticket,

    He said: “Several times we met here and before the PDP had their primary, we met here again and repeated the same thing.

    “We didn’t know that our own Governor, who initiated this meeting, if you agreed for a meeting to be held in your house and you backed out thereafter; you have betrayed your colleagues. Isn’t it?

    “So, that’s why one of my cousins called Okowa miscreant.”

  • Oil in Niger Delta Belongs to Nigeria, Obasanjo Replies Clark

    Oil in Niger Delta Belongs to Nigeria, Obasanjo Replies Clark

    The former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Tuesday said that he never hated the Niger Delta Region contrary to the accusation of Chief Edwin Clark against him sequel to Obasanjo’s position on oil in the Niger Delta Region.

    However, Obasanjo in a reply to the accusation of Clark, insisted that the oil found in the Niger Delta region belonged to Nigeria constitutionally, saying pointing out the position of the constitution on an issue, should not be translated to hatred

    Obasanjo made the assertion in a six page letter he wrote in response to accusation against him by Niger Delta elder, Chief Edwin Clark in an open letter about a week ago following his comments on the issue at a forum.

    Clark, had accused Obasanjo of holding a deep seated disdain for the people of the oil producing region based on the former President’s assertion that oil found in the Niger Delta belong to Nigeria and not the region.

    The National Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Ebipamowei Woduat, had at a forum convened by the Global Peace Foundation and Vision Africa in Abuja that Nigeria should allow Niger Delta to derive full benefits from the oil found in the region and which Obasanjo disagree with..

    Not pleased with the position of Obasanjo on the INC, Clark who is the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of INC, in his open letter, said Obasanjo’s comments that the oil found in the Niger Delta does not belong to the people of the region represents his continuous arrogant stance and negative disposition against Niger Delta.

    However, in his open released Tuesday, Obasanjo insisted that he had never hated Niger Delta while reiterating his stance that oil found in the region belonged to the Nigerian federation.

    Obasanjo said, “For me personally, I have never shown any anger or distraught with Nigeria nor with any part or region of Nigeria. I will rather pick points on leadership or policies and I will continue to do so.”

    The former president said that his records before and after the civil war in Niger Delta Region was without blemish and it was all goodness and goodwill to all the people of Nigeria and Niger Delta.

    He said, “But if you take my holding a constitutional position on federalism and reiterating the position of our past constitution – 1963 Constitution as I understand it as anger or grievance against the Niger Delta or Nigeria Delta people that will be a very wrong position to take because until I can be legally and constitutional persuaded, otherwise i will continue to hold my ground.”

    According to Obasanjo, the 1963 Constitution did not confer ownership of oil and other mineral resources on any of the then regions.

    He insisted that just as the Niger Delta’s oil belong to the Nigerian federation, the minerals in other parts of the country also belonged to the country.

    “The gold in Ilesha, Osun State and the lead in Ebonyi State all come under the same law and constitution. There is no part of Nigeria whose interest is not dear to my heart. And stating in your letter that it’s only that interest of the North that I continually hold dear to my heart is the type of Bukah gossip that knowing you as I do since 1975, I am not suprised that you echoed.

    “Some of the languages you have deployed to describe me in your letter are offensive, uncouth and I totally and completely rejected them.

    “I am not inconsistent, hypocritical, un-statesman, and nor am I anybody’s lackey. You use you own yardstick to judge others. I fear God and I respect those who respect themselves and I hope it is about time you change from a tribesman to a statesman,” Obasanjo said.

  • You Ought To Be A Statesman Not Tribesman, Obasanjo Replies Clark

    You Ought To Be A Statesman Not Tribesman, Obasanjo Replies Clark

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Tuesday, replied the leader of Niger Delta, Edwin Clark, over allegations of his hatred against the region.

    Obasanjo said Nigeria and Niger Delta demand in Clark, a statesman and not tribesman, just as he warned leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ijaw National Congress, against deploying “offensive and uncouth languages” to describe his personality.

    Clark, had on Wednesday hit Obasanjo over what he termed “a disappointing display of hatred against the people of the oil-producing states in Nigeria.”

    He was reacting to a recent outburst by the former President in Abuja, where he attacked the National Secretary of the INC, Ebipamowei Wodu, at a peace and security parley convened by the Global Peace Foundation and Vision Africa.

    In an open letter to Obasanjo titled, ‘My disappointment over your unprovoked outburst against the people of the Niger Delta region’, Clark accused the former President of double standards over resource control in the country.

    But reacting to Clark, Obasanjo said he bears no grudge against the Niger Delta.

    Obasanjo’s response was contained in a letter dated December 28, 2021, titled, “My response to the open letter by Clark.”

    The former President noted that Some of the languages deployed by Clark to describe him “are offensive and uncouth”, to which he “totally and completely rejected them.”

    He said “I have never shown any anger, distraught with Niger Delta region nor any part of Nigeria. Some of the languages you have deployed to describe me in your letter are offensive, uncouth and I totally and completely rejected them, I am not inconsistent, hypocritical, unstatesman, and nor am I anybody’s lackey.

    “You use your own yardstick to judge others. I fear God and I respect those who respect themselves and I hope it is about time you change from a tribesman to a statesman of character.

    “That’s what Nigeria and indeed the Region you process to love demand of you at this stage.

    “I believe one lesson that we all must appreciate that we have all learned in the last sixty – one years of our independence is that we all need to be civil to ourselves and occasionally put ourselves in position of others.

    “Bad language does not show prudence, wisdom and maturity. I hope you will think and adjust.”

  • Igbos must produce Nigeria’s next President in 2023 – Edwin Clark

    Igbos must produce Nigeria’s next President in 2023 – Edwin Clark

    Edwin Clark, leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, has maintained that the Southeast “must” produce Nigeria’s next president in 2023.

    Clark disclosed this when a presidential aspirant, Anyim Pius Anyim, visited him on Friday.

    He urged Anyim to collaborate with leaders across Nigeria to build consensus for equity and unity.

    Clark noted his passionate “belief that the presidency of Nigeria in 2023 must go to the Southern part of Nigeria and indeed to South-East zone.

    “I encourage you and others to continue the task of persuading and reassuring other Nigerians to share that vision.”

    Some political stakeholders have been advocating for a Nigerian president of the Southeast extraction.

    The Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, VON, Osita Okechukwu, had said the Southeast should be allowed to produce Nigeria’s president because the region would not disappoint.

    Okechukwu assured that an Igbo president would help develop Nigeria because the Southeast is “talented to do so.”