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ATIKU ENDORSEMENT: A deal with ‘the old dying generation that lacks integrity’- PANDEF youths

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Northern, southern leaders endorse Atiku Abubakar

More knocks have continued to land on Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), which along other regional groups endorsed the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

The youth wing of PANDEF on Tuesday denied media reports that the body endorsed Atiku and described those who participated in the endorsement as “old dying generation that lacks integrity.”

The youths kicked after PANDEF’s publicity secretary, Chief Sara-Igbe Anabs, speaking for some members of the group, had in an earlier statement distanced themselves from the action.

The youth wing, which made its position on the endorsement known at an emergency meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, condemned it adding that it was from “just a bunch of old men who collected money from Atiku and Obi.”

A statement by PANDEF youth coordinator, Famous Daunemigha, and leaders from Edo and Delta states, General Don Ben and Abule Ateh, released after the meeting read: “Number one , PANDEF never endorsed Atiku , because what you saw is a bunch of old dying generation that lacks integrity. PANDEF is a well organised body made up of very well enlightened people cut across the whole of Niger Delta states.

“PANDEF has a constitution , we are apolitical ; it ’s just a bunch of old men who collected money from Atiku and Obi , trying to fill their pockets even when they are dying.

“PANDEF never had any meeting or Congress, where we agreed to endorse any political party . What they did was by a few greedy old dying men who lack integrity ; that ’s what happened.

‘It is very clear that the bunch of self -seeking elders did the endorsement and the announcement on their own.’

“It ’s very clear, I am an APC member, but I’ve never used PANDEF at any point because we know that the constitution says that we should be apolitical. We all have rights to support whatever political party but not to endorse any person or a candidate.

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“The few people you saw there are just a bunch of like minds . Chief E.K Clark , the chairman of PANDEF, some other PDP members who are there , who feel that they are losing election . They want to use regional bodies to advocate for votes but they will fail.

“PANDEF has not met; we never had a Congress at any time to decide such endorsement; it was a bunch of greedy old people.

“They are aware that they have disgraced themselves and as far as I am concerned, they can never gather in any place. This bunch of elders, they can never gather , and they don’t have what it takes to gather.”

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