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Tag: Edwin Clark

  • Why ethnic nationalities adopted Atiku, by Clark

    Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark has explained why ethnic nationalities picked Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential Atiku Abubakar as their anointed candidate for Saturday’s presidential poll.

    Elders of various groups in the six geo-political zones of country last week endorsed Atiku as their candidate.

    Clark said Atiku was picked ahead of other candidates simply because he is the only that agreed to restructure the country.

    Besides, Clark noted that Atiku possesses what it takes to represent Nigeria among the comity of nations.

    Briefing newsmen at the weekend, the former National Commissioner said the South-South stands for restructuring and would only vote for the candidate that will restructure to ensure equity and justice.

    The 91- year- old elder statesman said the only thing left on his agenda is restructuring, which he vowed to pursue with the last drop of his strength.

    He stressed that restructuring  the country has nothing to do with the breaking up of Nigeria but the creation of a new Nigeria where every citizen is equal and all the Federating states or regions are able to develop at their pace under the practice of Fiscal Federalism.

    Read Also: Dickson, Clark warn against politicising security

    According to him: “We have now seen that our salvation is in restructuring. If we do not restructure this country, this country will not survive.”

    “So people are now asking what do we do? In any civilized country, election is the deciding factor.

    “Nobody forces himself on you. You go to the poll and vote. Our message if you want to restructure Nigeria, you are our man and if you do not want to restructure Nigeria, you are not our man.

    “So people are wondering why we adopted Atiku.  Some of our boys who think they are Jews have said dying old men have  been taking money from Atiku.

    “So ladies and gentlemen, we believe that Nigeria belongs to all of us. So when we had that so many people were interested in being the president of Nigeria, and we decided to invite about seventeen of them including Atiku and the rest.

    “The PDP presidential candidate in our discussion with him, which lasted for two hours, told us that he support restructuring and he has been working for it since 1985.

    “From the bottom of our heart, we saw that Atiku Abubakar was the only sincere person who believed in restructuring.”

    He also noted that the choice of Atiku was not made by just two people but people from the six geo-political zones.

     

  • ‘Those endorsing Atiku are political jobbers’

    The Buhari Media Organization (BMO) has dismissed the Sunday’s endorsement of the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar by a group of regional blocks, describing it as a gathering of ‘shameless exponents of political adventurism.’

    The group said those endorsing the former Vice President are political jobbers, freelance activist and free-wheeling influence peddlers.

    It added it not surprising members of the socio-cultural groups the individuals claimed to be representing have already disowned the purported endorsement.”

    In a statement by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, the group said: “These are men who in spite of their advanced age are known to be political middlemen who have been out of job in the last three and a half years of the President Buhari administration.

    “That virtually all of them have been disowned by the core membership of the socio-cultural group they are supposed to be representing say a lot about their credibility.

    “One of them Pogo Bitrus, who claimed to be the President of the Middle Belt Forum is from Borno State but is presenting himself as the leader of the umbrella body of the people of North Central Nigeria, as the name suggests.

    Read Also: Endorsement of Atiku, a fraud, says APC

    “It is even on record that Bitrus was the leader of the Chibok community in Abuja but was removed because of his romance with the Jonathan administration at the height of the clamour for the return of the abducted Chibok girls in 2014.

    “As for the Afenifere, it is clear that the duo of Pa Ayo Adebanjo and Yinka Odumakin are using the name as influence-vending franchise on behalf of a group of people they have no mandate to represent”.

    BMO stated the arrowheads of the endorsement are PDP members and sympathisers who were also in the forefront of support for the failed re-election bid of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “This purported endorsement, which Atiku Abubakar is already celebrating, is nothing more than a case of party members backing their Presidential candidates by subterfuge, as is usual with the PDP.

    “Only recently we saw the PDP faction of Ohaneze led by John Nwodo endorse Atiku Abubakar, but few days later, the Anambra State Government and Ohaneze Youth Council led the deluge of dissenting voices which insisted that the people of South East should be allowed to vote in line with their conscience.

    “As for Ango Abdullahi, the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has questioned his right to speak for and on behalf of the Northern Region.

    “So these so-called Nigerian leaders and elders, led by a known PDP Chieftain, Edwin Clark that claimed they opted for their party’s Presidential candidate because he is ‘capable’, are clearly not representing anybody aside from themselves.

    “And just like in 2015, the fake endorsement is dead on arrival because the people who matter and who heartily received President Buhari at campaign rallies across the country are ready to make their votes count on February 16 by giving him a resounding victory”.

  • ‘Count Itsekiri out of plans to adopt Atiku’

    Efforts by regional cliques to enlist ethnic support for the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, suffered setback in the South-South region on Wednesday as the Itsekiri nation stoutly rejected being included.

    The Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILoT), the apex socio-cultural body of the Itsekiri people, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Chief Edward Ekpoko, disowned the organisation that lays claim to the representation of the South-South region; the Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).

    In its statement, ILoT flatly dissociated itself from the representative role of PANDEF, saying the body is merely an Ijaw interest group, which could not lay claim to representing the interest of all of Ijaw nation, much less representing the entire multi-ethnic South-South.

    It further stated that the Itsekiri people should be counted out of the scheduled gathering of the region cliques, billed to hold coming Sunday, saying that the people had not adopted any presidential or governorship candidate yet, a decision which it said would soon be made and reveal to the general public.

    “Our attention has been drawn to a proposed meeting of some self-styled regional and ethnic leaders masquerading as Southern, Northern and Middle Belt Leaders scheduled for Sunday. This is being done under various aegises of which the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) is one.

    Read Also: Atiku reports Buhari to US, UK, others

    “PANDEF which arrogates to itself to be a Pan Niger Delta body, does not and cannot represent and speak for the Itsekiri people. It cannot even claim to represent the interests of the entire Ijaw Nation much more of other ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta. PANDEF agenda is purely Ijaw and does not approximate with Itsekiris.

    “The Itsekiri Leaders of Thought and indeed the Itsekiri Nation has not decided on any of the presidential or governorship candidates and will in few days unveil its position on the candidates”, the statement said.

  • Dickson condemns Badeh’s killing, mourns Clark’s son

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, on Thursday described the killing of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal, Alex Badeh, as shocking and unfortunate.

    He said that it was a sad commentary on the nation’s security situation that a top military personality who got to the pinnacle of his profession could be killed in such a way.

    Dickson in a statement in Yenagoa called on the Federal Government to ensure that persons behind the murder of the former Chief of Air Staff and former Chief of Defence Staff were arrested and brought to justice.

    He condoled with the immediate family of the fallen former Defence Chief, the Nigerian Air Force, the Military and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces

    Dickson also condoled with the Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, on the death of his son, Chike.

    The governor said that the news of the death of the 43-year-old son of the elder statesman came to him as a shock.

    The Governor prayed to the Almighty God to give Pa Clark, the immediate family of the Late Chike and the Ijaw nation the fortitude to bear the loss.

    Read Also: Police chief to Dickson: I’m here to fight crimes

    Until his death after a surgery at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, on Sunday, the late Chike, a father of three, was living with his family in Hungary.

    The governor said: “The news of the death of Mr. Chike Clark, the son of Ijaw National Leader, Pa Edwin Clark came to us a shock. While it is a natural feature of our people as Africans to pray for Long life, we cannot question will of the Almighty God.

    “On behalf of the good people of Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation, I condole with our leader on this sad development.

    “We are with him at this trying moment and even as we pray for God to grant Pa Clark, and indeed the family the fortitude to bear this loss.”

  • Only vibrant President can take Nigeria out of the woods – Saraki

    The Senate President and presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bukola Saraki, has warned that Nigeria can not develop except with a vibrant, youthful and full-time President.

    According to him, even developed democracies are now rushing for energetic, vibrant, focused and capable youthful leaders in order to have edge over other countries.

    Saraki spoke on Monday night during his visit to the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum at the residence of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum leader, Chief Edwin Clark, in Asokoro, Abuja.

    He expressed worries that Nigeria is presently dangerously disunited, lacks leadership capacity, with insensitivity and impunity as the order of the day.

    He said “Where we are as a country today is too serious for us to take lightly. The Nigeria that we have today have never been so disunited. When you go to many parts of the country, people will tell you ‘Do I truly belong? Are we part of this country called Nigeria?

    “On top of that, over a number of years, we have seen series of impunity. People are not held accountable. There is no inclusiveness in government. There is insensitivity and lack of empathy. These are big issues and unless we can unite a country, everything is…., development, creation of jobs.

    “So the first thing that is key to us is how do we unite this country. What kind of President can unite this country? …..

    “Lack of insensitivity, these are the issues that are driving suspicion, pulling us apart. Anything else we talk, development e.t.c can’t happen unless we bring everybody back.

    “As such, he must somebody that can represent …, somebody in any part of the country can say ‘ I think he represents Nigeria’, ‘I think he will be fair to me whether I’m a Christian or Muslim’, ‘I think he will be fair to me whether I’m a northerner or southerner’. That gives us an opportunity of a platform to move forward.” he said

    He added “Secondly, more importantly, I think what has been one of our major problem is capacity. I think over the years we have voted on sentiments. We have left capacity and ability, and used sentiments to decide who leads us. That is why we are where we are today.

    “But we need Mr. President that has the capacity, that has the vision that can drive and perform.” he said

    Without capacity on the part of the leadership, he said, that Nigeria cannot progress even though God has continued to be blessed the nation.

    “There is no country that can provide for its people, take them out of poverty the way we are going about it.” he said

    The Senate President also pointed out that the countries that are getting it right did not happen by chance or trial and error.

    He said “The Asian tiger we talk about didn’t happen by chance, it didn’t happen by trial and error, it happened because they have visionary leaders, leaders that know where they want to take their countries to.

    “As such, when looking for a president, he must be somebody that knows what it takes to do it. I say this all the time, you cannot give what you don’t have. I said it three years ago, I was harassed for it, when I said there are governments within government. There was no mistake about it. Governments are existing with no direction. And at such you must have a leader that understands.

    “There is a new order in the world today. All over the world, they are now looking for vibrant leadership, youthful leadership. Even developed democracies are going there because it is not a part-time job, it is not an easy job. Today, the President of a country is a 24-hour job if you want to do it properly, especially in an environment where you want to reform a country. So you need youthfulness, you need energy, you need vibrancy.

    “And most importantly, you need to be bold and courageous in order to take those decisions that need to be taken. And also to be focused. These are the qualities that are required.” he said

    On the economy, he said that the government cannot do it alone without creating the environment for the private sector to flourish.

    He said “Seventy percent of our population are young people. Government alone cannot take us there. Unless we have a private sector that is ten times bigger than what it is today, forget it young people will still be roaming around carrying their CV looking for jobs in government that will never come. It will never come because those jobs will never be there.

    “The only way they will get jobs is when we have private sector that have ability to create jobs, and to create the investments that will make it happen. Two million barrels a day, with population growing at 3%, is not enough.
    What you need to do is ensure other sectors, minerals, agriculture, are growing.

    “As a governor, I came up and said you must have commercial farming. What I said over seven years ago is what is the blueprint today that the government is trying to adopt. When I said it then, I was attacked.
    Today, the country is still spending N2 to N3 billion and it will continue to do so.” he said

    He told the leaders that he has what it takes turn around the fortunes of the country.

    Saraki said “If it is about the work, my leaders, I know I am very competent and I know what needs to be done to put this country on the right path.

    “I have shown my experience, apart from my eight years and Chairman Nigeria Governors Forum, I have shown that ….make people work together. I have also shown that in the Senate in the last three years, which have 18 former governors, despite all the efforts of the government.

    “I believe I have been able to show leadership and capacity. it’s okay for us to say we want to get rid of Mr. President. By getting rid of Mr President, we might not fix Nigeria. I don’t think we want to get rid of Mr. President without fixing Nigeria.

    “So, we must find a candidate that must fix this country. I have the capacity that is required to turn this country around. This time around I believe we must go for capacity.” he stated

    He also thanked the elders for the sacrifices they are making towards ensuring good leadership for the nation.

    He said “Let me appreciate the sacrifices you are all making at this time because you would have thought that with the many years you have given to this country, that what you should be doing now is relaxing and thanking God for where the country is going.

    Read Also: Court orders arrest of Sen Uzodinma

    “But you are concerned, patriotic and desired to leave a better Nigeria for your children and grand children.” he said

    Speaking earlier, the President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief John Nwodo, gave reasons why the ground has extended invitations to all presidential aspirants in the forthcoming election.

    He said “Our desire is to deepen democracy in the course of our exchange by presenting the aspirants a number of national issues we feel important and critical to enable our country survive.

    “We have spoken to about four presidential aspirants.
    We are anxious to know more about the candidates so that in our interactions with our people who are in the political parties we can better inform them of our dialogue with the various candidates, our judgement as to how they represent the aspirations of Nigerians.

    “This elections is very important to Nigerians. For many Nigerians, if we get it wrong this time, we will be singing …. of our country.” he said.

  • Disease called ‘I am not aware’

    SIR: A scrum of police officers invades the residence of a respected Ijaw leader – Edwin Clark. The invaders claim they are acting on the order of Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police (IGP). These invidious executers of tyranny spend more than two hours rummaging through the “boxers, socks, hats, bead necklaces, soup pots, cellar and cutlery” of the Ijaw chief, but they find nothing.

    They had presented a search warrant to legitimatise their illegality. But the invasion turns out a botched attempt to “frame” a voice of dissent.

    The police claimed the search was initiated because they had information that Clark was stockpiling weapons in his Asokoro residence. But the scoop turns out a hoax.

    To save face, IGP Idris says he is “not aware” of the invasion. Who gives the orders?

    The claim of the police chief is risible because the invaders showed a search warrant and acknowledged that they were sent by him. And they even spent more than two hours poring through the crevices of Clark’s residence. Why was the search not called off?

    What if an incriminating item was found on the property, would IGP Idris have claimed he was not aware of the intrusion? Or would he clench is fist in glory and announce to citizens that “weapons have been found in the house of one influential politician, and we suspect he is sponsoring attacks in the country”?

    However, does this reckless invasion have anything to do with Clark’s open support for Senate President Bukola Saraki? Maybe my imagination is running wild. Or perhaps I have been so mentally tasered by the government that I suspect every action taken by its agents.

    The fact is, the search on such a high-profile individual could not have been carried out without the authorisation of the police leadership.  In all, this embarrassing security misfire reveals once again the style of IGP Idris’.

    By the way, the culture of not taking responsibility for actions – when they provoke citizens’ angst – was trended by President Muhammadu Buhari.  In fact, he has the copyright to the clause, “I am not aware”.  Is it then surprising that IGP Idris is toeing the same path? I would say he is only being a good student. He is learning well from his master.

    And a few weeks ago, the Department of State Security (DSS) invaded the National Assembly, causing much uproar and cacophony. The presidency claimed it was not aware. But Lawal Daura, the sacked DSS Director General, shattered that glass of deception. He said the invasion of the National Assembly was a “collective decision”.

    In conclusion, the I-am-not-aware slant is reminiscent of the military era, where soldiers would kill, maim and torture people, but the leadership would blame it on “unknown soldiers”.  This is the democracy’s version of “unknown soldiers”, perhaps.

    Anyway, I am not aware.

     

    • Fredrick Nwabufo,

    fredricknwabufo@yahoo.com

     

     

  • Atiku meets with regional leaders in Abuja

    …says Nigeria’s problems need urgent solutions

    Presidential Aspirant and ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday met with leaders of the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum in Abuja.

    He is the first presidential aspirant to meet with the leaders of the regional group.

    The meeting is holding in  the house of Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, at his Asokoro residence.

    The former Vice President said he decided to meet with the group because he believed that the problems plaguing the country needed to be tackled urgently.

    He said it was the responsibility of the leaders to meet and discuss the challenges confronting Nigeria and find solutions to them.

    “Nigeria is beset with a lot of problems. In fact problems that are so grave that they are likely, if we don’t move fast enough to curtail them, will bring about another national crisis.

    “It is our responsibilities as leaders to engage ourselves in meaningful discourse so that together, we can resolve the problems confronting this country.

    “Particularly, I will like to mention a few key areas where we need to pay attention. One is the structure of our country. Is it working? Is it what we want? At least it has been there for a number of decades. Maybe since the military incursion into our politics since 1966.

    “Is our economy working well? What of other sectors of our public life? Security. Are we secured? Is law and order protecting majority of people in this country? And of course we have the social sector to contend with. Those are problems as far as our educational, health systems are concerned. Even our infrastructural deficits. Count them.

    “And I think without interacting, exchanging views, and agreeing on how best we can resolve these problems whether as socio-cultural leaders or political leaders or leaders of the business community, I don’t think we will be able to resolve these problems,” Atiku stated.

    The President, Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, John Nwodo, who spoke on behalf of the forum, said the group has decided to invite presidential aspirants on their plans to move the country forward.

    He said: “We have decided to talk with him since he has expressed desire to rule this country, to contest the presidency. We wanted to rub minds with him, to know his views so that by the time we finish this interactions we will be able to assure ourselves which one of them we think have the capacity to reflect our aspiration and rejig our country and bring it to where many will like it to be.

    “We want to see the people who want to represent us. We want to hear from them, we want to be convinced of their capacity to represent us.”

    Those present at the meeting include: Chief Ayo Adebanjo, John Nwodo, Yinka Odumakin, Amb. Godknows Igali,

  • IG dissolves Special Tactical Squad

    The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris has ordered the immediate dissolution of the IGP Special Tactical Squad (IGP-STS).

    The IG also ordered the re-deployment of all the personnel of the squad to other departments and formations of the Force.

    The disbandment may not be unconnected with the unauthorized raid of Chief Edwin Clark’s residence by some personnel in the unit.

    The Squad was headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Kolo Yusuf before the directive of the dissolution.

    Read Also: Police vow to arrest killers of ASP, others in Taraba

    A statement in Abuja on Friday night by the Force Spokesman, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood stated that senior officers attached to the erstwhile STS who were linked with complicity or played conspiracy roles in the unauthorized, illegal and unprofessional misconduct in the search of Clark’s residence in Asokoro are presently undergoing strict disciplinary procedures.

    Moshood also stated that the tactical operations and statutory core Police duties that the dissolved STS were charged with are now collapsed and will be carried out by other operational, investigative and response units of the Force.

  • Raid of Clark’s residence: IG dismisses three Inspectors

    Following a special plea to Chief Edwin Clark’s forgiveness, the Inspector-General of Police has approved the dismissal of three police Inspectors who carried out an illegal raid on the elder statesman’s Abuja residence on Tuesday.

    An Assistant Superintendent of Police has also been put on suspension until the Police Service Commission determines his fate, while an the informant who gave them the information that led to the illegal operation has been charged before an Abuja court.

    In a statement issued at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood gave details of the decision taken on the issue by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Kpotum Idris.

    “The Inspector General of Police has approved the dismissal from the service of the Nigeria Police Force, three Inspectors namely AP/No. 18858 Inspr Godwin Musa, AP/No. 225812 Inspr Sada Abubakar and AP/No. 225828 Inspr Yabo Paul, and the immediate interdiction of AP. No 158460 ASP David Dominic who were involved in the unauthorized, illegal and unprofessional misconduct in the search of the residence of Elder Statesman, Chief Edwin Clark in Asokoro, Abuja on 4th September, 2018.

    “AP. No. 158460 ASP David Dominic was queried and being investigated for discreditable conduct, negligence of duty and an act unbecoming of a police officer which constitute serious misconduct and if not checked can be inimical to the image of the Nigeria Police Force and violation of fundamental human rights of the elder statesman as provided for in the 1999 Nigeria Constitution as amended.

    “The gravity of the offences against the officer is serious in nature and dismissal from service is imminent.

    “Consequently, the Inspector General of Police approved that AP. No 158460 ASP David Dominic, be on interdiction from Service pending the determination of his case by the Police Service Commission.

    “The IGP also approved and upheld the dismissal from service of  AP/No. 18858 Inspr Godwin Musa, AP/No. 225812 Inspr Sada Abubakar and AP/No. 225828 Inspr Yabo Paul, after the trio were tried under Oath in Orderly Room Trial for discreditable conduct, illegal duty, disobedience to lawful order and other misconduct contrary to the rule of law.

    “The suspect (Informant) Ismail Yakubu from Waru Village, Apo District, Abuja, has been charged to Upper Area Court Mpape, Abuja for giving false information and telling falsehood that misled police action,” the police spokesman stated.

  • Saraki condemns raid on Edwin Clark’s residence

    …Seeks Probe

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday condemned the search in the Abuja home of nonagenarian, Chief Edwin Clark, by the police.

    He described the action of the police as “unwarranted” and called for an “open, comprehensive investigation into the incident.”

    While insisting that the search was “unwarranted harassment of the statesman who is known for being very vocal in expressing his views on national issues”, Saraki stated that the incident must not be allowed to be covered up without the public knowing all the details, particularly concerning who gave the order, who signed the police search warrant, which officers executed it and what objective was it meant to serve.

    This is contained in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senate President, Yusuph Olaniyonu.

    Saraki said, “Chief Edwin Clark, a Second Republic Senator, former minister under the General Gowon administration is not just anybody. Yes, he is not above the law. If there is a genuine reason for his home to be searched by law enforcement agencies, nobody will object to it. However, as it now appears, for the Police to conduct a raid on the home of a man of that age on the pretense that they were looking for arms and eventually, the claim turned out to be a hoax, then something must be amiss.

    Read Also: Edwin Clark: I got information from a taxi driver, says Informant

    “This type of action by the Police coming at this time when the nation is preparing for election is not reflecting well on the country. Such actions constitute a threat to democracy. They represent gross abuse of state institutions. Now that the Inspector General of Police has denied that the raid was never authorized, the next move should be a thorough, transparent investigation into the Senator Edwin Clark incident to prevent future occurrence.

    “This kind of ugly development must stop. This country experienced peaceful change in 2015 because the government in power allowed democracy to work. If the government had allowed the flagrant abuse and misuse of state institutions to be the norm, we would not have had the change that occurred.”

    Saraki reminded the government of its recent commitment to world leaders on the need to create a peaceful and conducive atmosphere necessary for a credible, free and fair elections where citizens can freely exercise their franchise, devoid of intimidation, suppression and abuse of their fundamental human rights.

    He noted that incidents like the one in the home of Chief Clark is in conflict with the promise the government made to these world leaders.

    “Democracy is not only about elections. Circumstances that will create tension in any part of the country or make people feel that their fundamental human rights are being trampled upon should be avoided. If a man of the calibre and status of Senator Edwin Clark could suffer such unwarranted raid on his home, then what happens to ordinary Nigerians as we move towards the 2019 polls and beyond?”, he asked.