Clark, others charge PDP’s allies to work for Jonathan’s re-election

Says none has exclusive divine right to rule Nigeria

FIRST Republic Minister of Information and Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, has challenged the Labour Party (LP) and any other political party allied with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming elections to courageously canvass for votes for all PDP candidates since they are using PDP “money to campaign.” 

   Clark insisted that a situation where some political parties allied with the PDP were not bold enough to openly campaign for the party in spite of the financial support they get from it was no more acceptable.

   The PDP chieftain, speaking in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, during a reception for him by the Chairman of PDP Mobilisation and Organisation Committee in South West, Prince Buriji Kashamu, said it was sad that some of the parties working for the PDP could campaign for only President Jonathan.

   “I am asking the Labour Party and other parties campaigning with the money that the PDP gave them to come to the PDP if they want,” he said. “You (parties involved) lack courage to tell the voters that you are working for the PDP hence they should vote for all PDP candidates. You are only campaigning for yourselves.”

   According to him, it is regrettable that some people who are parading these days as Awoists are of dubious character, some of them are even “thieves,” because true Awoists are “honest, sincere, selfless and patriotic personalities who could be depended upon at all times.

   “But these days, people who are parading themselves as Awoists or Yoruba leaders steal your money. Their main aim is to grab, grab and grab.”

   Clark said it was the responsibility of every Nigerian to ensure that the unity of Nigeria is maintained, therefore he called for “true federalism” to allow each state develop at its own space.

   “A situation where some people think that it is their divine right to rule the country and so if they can’t rule everything must be destroyed, must not be tolerated any more,” he added.

   On his part, Kashamu assured party faithful that PDP would win between 80 and 85 per cent of votes in the state in the coming elections, stating that the divisions within the party had been resolved, “so we now have only one PDP in the state.”

   He described Clark as a frank, bold, unique and patriotic leader worthy of emulation, just as other PDP chieftains at the ceremony commended the Ijaw leader’s efforts at uniting the party.