I didn’t get contract, oil block, anything from Jonathan- Edwin Clark, says his statement on Jonathan was misconstrued
Weeks after he was quoted as saying that former
president Jonathan lacked the political will to fight corruption, notable Ijaw leader and a former Minister, Edwin Clarke has
released a statement describing the media interpretation of his
statement as wicked and sensationally presented.
Clarke said what he
meant was that the former President was willing to fight corruption but
wanted it to be done according to laid down rules. He said contrary to
stories being peddled, he never got any contract, oil block or anything
whatsoever from Jonathan who many believed had a father-son
relationship with him. Part of the statement which he released yesterday reads;
"My statements on President Jonathan and my quitting partisan politics
were wickedly, sensationally presented. It must be admitted that
President Jonathan was very willing to fight corruption, but he believed
that due process should and must be followed otherwise he could have
initiated investigations into the scandals of Halliburton, Siemens and
other serious alleged corruption charges levelled against some former
Heads of State and other prominent Nigerians. Jonathan believed that
there are institutions set up by the government, such as the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commissions, EFCC, and other anti-graft agencies.
Regrettably, some of those who surrounded him led by the Attorney
General, Alhaji Hassan Tukur, made it impossible for these institutions
to work either by stopping them from arresting offenders or prosecuting
some of the cases.
Over 50 high profile corruption cases are still pending in the various
courts for over eight years now. Laughable plea bargains and out of
court settlements became the order of the day. It was at this juncture,
when there was general complaint about the government not aggressively
fighting corruption, that I addressed an open petition to the then Chief
Justice of the Federation, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, November 2 , 2011,
complaining that most of those charged to court, especially former
governors who have become senators, were still pending. He promptly
replied my letter on November 3. Most of the petitions written against
some prominent Nigerians, addressed to the anti-graft agencies, did not
see the light of the day. Ironically, the perpetrators of these corrupt
actions were the same persons who attacked Jonathan’s inability to
eradicate corruption.
It is indeed most disingenuous to insinuate that my relationship with
the former President was based on what benefits accrued to me. That is
far from the truth as I never benefited any material thing from
President Jonathan in all his six years as President. With all modesty, I
am at this age contented. I state publicly therefore, that I never
sought nor obtained any contract, oil block, oil lifting allocation or
financial gratification from the ministries, departments and agencies,
MDAs, during his years of administration. Similarly, I never solicited
for appointments or special placements for any of my children or
relations in any government or private concern on account of my
relationship with President Jonathan.
It is, therefore, ludicrous and totally ill-motived for these wicked and
mischievous persons to sell to the public that my decision portends a
plan to seek any special favours from President Muhammadu Buhari and his
government, or to protect those gains which I acquired from Jonathan’s
government, which never existed. On the contrary, my public service in
this country, which spans over 60 years, had given me the opportunity to
seek the political, social and economic development of my people and
Nigeria in general.
I remain committed more than ever before to the economic, political and
social emancipation of the people of the Niger Delta, South-South, the
entire minorities and the development and unity of this great nation. My
support for Goodluck Jonathan predates his presidency. It dates back to
the period when he was the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State. So, for
people, who are thinking that I only knew Dr. Jonathan when he became
the President or that I was one of his hangers on, I think there will be
need to give them a little information.
“My relevance and leadership of my people as an elder statesman and a
critical stakeholder in this Nigeria project far pre-dates Dr.
Jonathan’s public life and presidency. I have been relevant in politics
and I have served my people honestly and creditably well. I became very
close to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan when he was Deputy Governor of Bayelsa
State. I was present in London when the late former Governor of Bayelsa
State, the Governor General of the Ijaw Nation, Chief DSP
Alamieyeseigha, was arrested at the prompting of the Nigerian government
under Olusegun Obasanjo because of his hatred for Alamieyeseigha. I had
to cancel my flight to Nigeria at the London airport when news of the
arrest of Alamieyeseigha was conveyed to me by Ambassador Pereware from
Paris. I went with a few well meaning Nigerians to Essex where we had
been informed that he was kept, but could not find him.
We went to a few other places before we were able to locate where he
was. I remained in London for one week with him to put in place
machineries for his bail. I recall the large heartedness of Lady Ann
Iyoha, who brought out the title deed of her property in London to
secure his bail and also the magnanimity of another woman from Amasoma,
the home town of Chief Alamieyeseigha in Bayelsa State. I still believe
that Jonathan performed creditably well in various areas. I am very
proud of him and so are millions of other Nigerians. He did many good
things for this nation.
Ordinarily, at my age and position in life, I should not have to justify
myself in a press controversy on my voluntary decision to quit partisan
politics, particularly when this personal and well intended act has
come under unfair politicization of persons of mediocre temperament.”
