Elder statesman and leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum,
Chief Edwin Clark, has asked the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, to resign.
According to him, Ayu is no longer fit and proper to retain
his position as the national chairman of the PDP.
Clark, a former First Republic federal Commissioner of
Information, said this in a statement on Tuesday, titled, “Resign now: You’re
no longer fit to remain PDP national chairman, Clark tells Iyorchia Ayu’.
He said, Even much worse, in the extreme, was the action of
the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, in his open visit to
Governor Tambuwal to congratulate and hail him, in his words, as “the hero of
the convention.
“This clearly reveals his 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 realize that what we are fighting
for affects all minorities in Nigeria. The Southern Nigeria relationship with
the Middle Belt is well established, dating back to the First Republic, during
the period of Dr. J. S. Tarka, from today’s Benue State, a founding member of
the then, United Middle Belt Congress, and the strong alliance with Chief
Obafemi Awolowo’s Action Group.
“The relationship subsisted during the Second Republic, when
the Minorities of the South and the Minorities of the North combined to fight
for a common course; the inclusion, and full participation of all Minorities in
the politics and governance of the Country, of which I was the Leader.
“Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s appalling, thoughtless and
unpatriotic public conduct bears grave negative consequences. He should, therefore,
no longer consider himself fit and proper to retain his position as the
National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, and should resign now.
“I decided to issue this press release because of the
worrying occurrences in our polity vis-a-vis the dappled party primaries being
conducted, across the country; the reported outrageous financial inducements of
delegates and the cynical dollarization of the electoral process.
“These happenings give strong warnings of, more likely,
deleterious outcomes of the 2023 general elections, mainly the Presidential,
and their aftermaths.
“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 29. I was quite impressed by
the efforts of the convention committee, which was headed by former Senate
President, Senator David Mark, and his assistants, particularly, the Governor
of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri.
“But, sadly, the outcome of the election leaves much to be
desired; it was very unjust and rather unwholesome. It will definitely impact
severe, adverse ramifications on the future unity of the country.
“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.
“That was done in order to foist another Northerner as the
party’s flag bearer; having regard to the fact that Governor Aminu Tambuwal was
the only aspirant from the whole of the North West, which had about 192
delegates at the convention.
“What Tambuwal did was not only dishonourable but also a
serious electoral abnormality and a tragic betrayal of national patriotism for hidebound
interests.
“Another Northern aspirant, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, a
businessman from Borno State, had, earlier, also suddenly, withdrawn from the
contest, citing its obscene monetization 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
matter, and 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.”
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