… Cautions Against Impunity In Delta PDP, Says Implosion Is Possible If Candidates Are Imposed, Canvasses Free & Fair Primaries.
… Flays Nwaoboshi, Cautions Gov. Uduaghan, Carpets Orubebe
BEVERLY HILLS, October 27, (THEWILL) – Elder Statesman and leader of the Ijaws in Nigeria, Pa Edwin Kiagbodo Clark spoke in his Kiagbodo country home on Sunday when gubernatorial aspirant in Delta State PDP, Rt. Hon Victor Onyekachi Ochei paid him a consultation visit.
He was in his usually eloquent form, vehement against injustice and flayed the impunity of former Chairman of PDP in his home Delta State. Citing the case of the recent changes in the State chapter of the party following the resignation of the ex-Chairman Mr. Peter Nwaobosi who is contesting for the Delta North Senatorial ticket, Clark said, “I want to say so many things have been happening in this State as if we do not exist, as a people, as party men. The second thing that happened recently was when a group of people sat down in Asaba to appoint a successor to the State Chairman contrary to section 45 subsection 1 to 4 which says that when a Chairman resigns, he hands over to the Deputy and the Deputy will now call a meeting and then they will elect a new person from the Zone. That was not done! Because Nwaobosi wanted somebody to pocket, and Uzor (acting Chairman) has been his boy.. PDP is not a family party, so we are going to oppose that one..It will not happen! The law must be followed. Otherwise there is no need for a constitution! If you can do whatever you like without the constitution, you will be faulted. The implication is far wide…anybody who has to be attested to or whose candidature have to be stamped by the State Executive…If this issue is not corrected, your opponent will go to court! That the Executive that supported you or attested to you is illegal! So we are going to press for the correction.”
Pa Clark called for a level playing field in the primaries reiterating that neither he nor Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan can impose a candidate on the people.
“The delegates are not going to be controlled by an individual…
“Nobody should therefore impose any candidate on us… rather we will encourage you to go to the arena and wrestle. Whoever is the ‘Olotu’ (the strongest) will become our gubernatorial candidate. That’s what we did in 1983…you’ll remember! We did what we call pure primaries. Our Primary for the Senatorial zone for the area was done at Iyede Town Hall…and my opponent was on A.G. Okeretugba. At that time accreditation was properly done and people voted. That is the beginning of knowing who is popular…that is internal democracy…” Clark asserted.
In a swipe at Governor Uduaghan over his plot to install ex civil servant, Mr. Anthony Obuh as his successor, Clark warned that the crisis that arose from the State Primaries of 2006/2007 should not be repeated.
“People should learn from history… In December 2006 the present Governor was imposed on us and we said NO! And we went to Agbor on the 29th of January 2007 and had a meeting at Dr Cairo Ojougboh’s hotel. Many people attended and we moved from there to Abuja… the battle continued, we pitched our camp at Transcorp Hilton. Every aspirant was there… but after sometime, some fell by the wayside, we told them goodbye and we continued the fight. At the end you saw what happened! So nobody should think of repeating what happened in 2007!” he said.
The notable Ijaw aspirant in Delta gubernatorial race, Elder Godsday Orubebe, a former Niger Delta Minister was not spared the tongue lash of Pa Clark who said President Jonathan’s aspiration for 2015 is the priority for Ijaws in Delta State…
“I told Orubebe he cannot get it – Governorship. We cannot have Jonathan and also have Ijaw governor… are we the only ones in Delta? So he can’t get it. When it’s time for an Ijaw governor we will work on that. Now is not the time. Let no one work against the interest of the President,” he said.
Commending Rt. Hon Ochei who he described as a truly detribalized politician representing a new face of Delta politics, Clark said: “Today Rt. Hon Ochei has come to see me and I look at the people that are here, and I see that you come from various parts of this State. Well I’m happy that my Ijaw people are here too. So my son you are one of the contestants. Come out and I will bless you. You have my support. Like every aspirant, we want a fair playing field. You all are my children. Nobody is to be discriminated against,” he added.
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