Former Federal Commissioner for
Information under the administration of General Yakubu Gowon, Edwin Clark, has
reiterated that President Goodluck Jonathan deserves to seek re-election come
2015.
He noted that minority people in the country have never been
given their pride of place until providence brought Jonathan to power, adding
that any unity that was not on equal basis cannot augur well for the
development of the country.
Clark, a prominent Ijaw leader, spoke when the Ijaw communities
represented by Izon-Ebe Oil Producing Communities Forum led by Moses Edougha
visited him in Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Council area of Delta State.
He noted that the oath of office Jonathan took after the demise
of late President Umaru Yar’Adua cannot replace his right to contest the next
Presidential polls as the Constitution allows him to contest two elections of
four-year term each.
“The era when Ijaw man was relegated to the background is past.
President Goodluck Jonathan has only contested one election. The oath of office
he took when Yar’Adua died is not superior to the provisions of Section 137 of
the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The oath does not replace his rights to contest in 2015. He
must contest again in 2015 and nobody has the right to stop Jonathan.
“The Constitution allows him to contest two elections.
Shagari did but it was his brother who overthrew him. Obasanjo did, and had
Yar’Adua not died, he would have completed his tenure.
“We believe in the unity of Nigeria and that unity must be on
equal basis, and not one man ruling you and you are not ruling. Whether
Jonathan is performing or not, it is the duty of Nigerians to vote for him or
not and not somebody saying that he has no right to contest. Nobody has the
right to stop him,” he added.
Clark who reacted to issues raised by leaders of the
association, carpeted the Northerners who oppose the Petroleum Industry Bill
(PIB), wondering why they and Yoruba should control the oil blocs.
According to him, pipeline vandalism would continue as long as
the people in the oil and gas communities were not carried along in the scheme
of things.
Jonathan himself spoke on Monday on his perceived 2015
Presidential ambition, saying he now avoids making long speeches so that people
would not say he was campaigning for the poll.
He spoke at the dedication of All Saints Anglican Church, Mpu,
Enugu State, built by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
The President, nonetheless, assured of his commitment to ensure
that the votes of Nigerians count in 2015.
“You cannot talk about good governance without credible
elections,” he said, stressing that he was committed to sanitising the
electoral process to make votes count.
Noting that leadership is transient, Jonathan said it was his
prayer to leave a legacy of free and fair elections in the country.
According to him, there was no need for people to fight to the
extent that they want to burn the house down whether at the national, state and
local government level just to get political power.
Jonathan noted: “We have a Constitution that specifies how long
somebody would stay in office and even if somebody wants to stay beyond that,
we are all biological specimen that would one day die.
“We should think more of our country. No leader can do
everything. We should think of some things and do them very well. You cannot do
everything and succeed.
“Since this administration with me as President, we have always
talked about free and fair elections because I have always said that you cannot
talk about good governance where election is manipulated.
“You cannot build something on nothing. The people must vote for
you. Before you think of how to run the place, you must be properly elected.
“We have always assured of our commitment to sanitise the
electoral process and make votes count. It has paid off.
“Today, I know the kind of statement people make wherever we go.
I know the kind of statement that people made when I was VP about the process
that brought us to power. Today, things have changed,” the President said.
Source: Daily Independent
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