May 31, (THEWILL) – Elder statesman and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, has condemned the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its Presidential candidate of the party last Saturday.
Clark also criticised the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, for openly commending Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State over his decision to withdraw from the presidential race, while declaring support for the eventual winner of the contest, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Describing Ayu’s open visit to Tambuwal to congratulate and hail him, as “the hero of the convention” as disgraceful, he declared the PDP Chairman as unfit to continue to lead the party.
The former Minister of Information, made the remarks in a statement on Tuesday. He said, “This clearly reveals his (Ayu) partiality and predilection in the processes leading to the baffling conclusion of the PDP presidential primary. His undignified and parochial conduct, to please his northern principals, is not only a big disgrace to the office he occupies but, also, a sad display of lewd subservience to the political subjugation of one ethnic group, in a diverse country like Nigeria.
“We had earlier suspected that he was in favour of a northern candidate, when on the day of his inauguration as national chairman, last year, he needlessly said, during his speech, that he would resign if a northerner emerged as the presidential candidate of the party.
“Senator Ayu has failed to realise that what we are fighting for affects all minorities in Nigeria.
“Most disturbing is what happened at the special national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, in Abuja, on Saturday May 28 2022. I followed the live broadcasts of the proceedings, keenly, until about 12.30 am on Sunday, May 29.
“I was alarmed by the outrageous and Machiavelli manner in which Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State, was so apparently “arranged” to announce his withdrawal from the contest, at the last minute. His speech changed the mood of the event.
“Another northern aspirant, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, a businessman from Borno State, had, earlier, also suddenly, withdrawn from the contest, citing its obscene monetisation as his reason, but we now know better.
“It is now widespread understanding that there were pressures mounted on Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, to also withdraw, while Tambuwal deliberately delayed his action till the last minute. By so doing, unduly swept his North West votes to Atiku Abubakar.
“One can now appreciate the reasons given by Peter Obi for his withdrawal from the PDP, both as a member, and as an aspirant, few days before the party’s primary. And I would think that what he did was, without doubt, in respect, or obedience, to the position of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum.
“Unfortunately, some aspirants from the South believed that with the resources and facilities at their disposal, their Elders no longer mattered. They disregarded, with impunity, the patriotic advice on the need to be steadfast on the position of the zoning of the Presidency to the South.
“They never minded that what we have been advocating was in their interest. They proved themselves to be selfish and arrogant and thought they could win on their own steam. They failed. I can only hope that they have now learned their lessons.”
About the Author
