Kick OBJ out, Clark tells PDP

FORMER Federal Commissioner for Information and South South leader, Chief Edwin Clark yesterday asked the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to expel the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo from the party.

Clark-obasanjoClark also pooh-poohed the peace accord signed by the President Goodluck Jonathan, General Muhammadu Buhari and 12 other presidential candidates of the various parties on the general elections, saying that it would not not work.

He further said that the peace accord was unnecessary and not in the interest of Nigerians and Nigeria, adding that Buhari was not likely to keep to the terms of the agreement against the backdrop that he refused to appear before the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa’s National Reconciliation Panel, to answer questions on his activities as former Military Head of State.

Speaking in an interview with newsmen at his Asokoro residence in Abuja, shortly after receiving a delegation of the North Central PDP Network led by its Director General, Murtala Zubairu, Middle Belt Minority Youths and many other PDP campaign groups, the Elder Statesman noted that although it was a good thing for President Jonathan to have signed the accord, ‘’Buhari cannot be trusted to keep the agreement.’’

Also speaking on the constant criticism of President Jonathan by Obasanjo, Chief Clark advised the leadership of PDP to stop begging the former president to support the party as according to him, it was obvious the former President was working with the opposition to bring Jonathan down.

‘’That man (Obasanjo) should not be allowed to be in the party. You beg him all the time; he has made up his mind. He gathered APC women to abuse President Jonathan,’’ he added. According to him, for Obasanjo to defend Buhari over the N25billion which was allegedly unaccounted for at the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF, which he (Buhari) headed showed that he was working for Jonathan to lose the election.

“Obasanjo is defending him because he wants APC to win. A man you dissolved his committee, PTF, could not account for N25billion and you are now saying that the man is not corrupt… Buhari and Obasanjo are the same. They are in a marriage of convenience just to remove Jonathan. How much corruption have you found in Jonathan that you are calling him corrupt?” he added.

According to him, the irony in the country was that those who were corrupt were also calling others corrupt, probably because ‘’they don’t know what the definition of corruption is. That is the big trouble in this country….’’

Speaking further on the accord, Chief Clark said that it did not mean anything to him, but quickly pointed out that he would however be glad if it could engender the necessary peace before, during and after the elections.

Clark further noted the recent statement by the United States of America that the increased Boko Haram attacks in the North East were likely connected to the impending elections, pointing out that if Buhari said he could stop the insurgents, he may not be far from the truth because they obey him.

“If Buhari comes and it (insurgency) stops, it is because they listen him. It is easier for them to stop it. But Jonathan is working on it. He has toured the area but they have given it another meaning. They are saying it is too late. Nigeria belongs to all of us and together we can salvage it.”

Vanguard, January 17, 2015

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