I can't believe my eyes.. This must be another Edwin Clark
Well, fish trust water pass like this and in the end, water boil am dry...if Jonathan was evil, this only proves that he surrounded himself with much worse evil men.
Elder Statesman, Chief Edwin Clark has dismissed media speculations that he betrayed former President Goodluck Jonathan by saying that the former president lacked the will to fight corruption.
Clark who was a known associate of the former president denied the allegations claiming that his statements were sensationally presented. He insisted that he didn’t get anything from the former president and despite his willingness to fight corruption, he was sabotaged.
In a 3,902-word letter, Clark said “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.
‘He was sabotaged’
“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.
‘I didn’t get anything from Jonathan’
“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. ‘I knew him before he became President’
“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.
‘We’re proud of him’
“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.”
asha80: this shows that Nigerians are more interested in drama than substance
Yea, every once in a while. The senators have made the whole thing boring by postponing every time they meet. Ordinarilly, this screening shouldn't have taken more than 4 sittings..and here we are, not even sure if the whole thing will end today. Things aren't working, we want things to work..you shld know what I mean.
The Senate will today, October 27, continue another round of ministerial screening as more nominees are expected to answer question raised on the floor of the House.
A little drama took centre stage at the last ministerial screening exercise after former governor of Rivers state Rotimi Amaechi kept PDP senators mum as he answered questions raised on the floor of the House.
However, eleven nominees are expected to be screened today.
The Senate on October 14, confirmed 18 ministers after day two of the ministerial screening exercise.
The 18 confirmed ministers are: Udoma Udo Udoma (Akwa Ibom state), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti state), Audu Ogbeh (Benue state), Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi state), Osagie Ehanire (Edo state), Abdulrahman Dambazau (Kano state), Lai Mohammed (Kwara state), Amina J Mohammed (Gombe state), Suleiman Adamu (Jigawa state) and Ibrahim Jibril (Nasarawa state), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos state), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu (Delta state), Abubakar Malami (Kebbi state), Chris Ngige (Anambra state), Aisha Jummai Alhassan (Taraba state), Solomon Dalong (Plateau state), Kemi Adeosun (Ogun state), Hadi Sirika (Katsina state).
Naij.com is live at the Red Chamber to bring you minute-by-minute account of the screening exercise.
10:45: Some Distinguished Senators already seated in the gallery as the atmosphere is calm going into today’s ministerial screening.
10:55: The Senate President Bukola Saraki has arrived. He exchanges hand shakes with distinguished Senators as he makes his way to his seat.
10:59: Saraki takes the Official Prayer for the day.
The supreme court has dismissed the suit of Nyesom Wike, Rivers state governor, who challenged the jurisdiction of the Rivers governorship election petition tribunal to hear a petition by Dakuku Peterside of All Progressives Congress (APC).
Wike had argued that the tribunal sitting in Abuja had no jurisdiction over matters that transpired in the state.
His contention is that the tribunal should have sat in Rivers state and not in Abuja.
The tribunal was moved to Abuja over for security concerns, as those of Akwa Ibom, Yobe, Adamawa and Borno.
The appeal court had earlier ruled that the tribunal could sit in Abuja to handle Rivers election petitions.
The Rivers tribunal had last Saturday sacked Wike as governor of the state, and ordered that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) hold a fresh election within 90 days.
Truckpusher: Whatever, when some persons decided to tamper with the tribunal ruling then no one has any moral ground to accuse Wike of any electoral bs.
The collective will of Rivers people shouldn't be tampered with either during the rerun else all hell would be let loose.
Truckpusher: Your cup tea, we said the same thing during the last election but you doubted it and so it happened and this is the grand finale .
You're Welcome .
yea, you said it and by the "crook", it happened. If the election was not marred by irregularities, you guys might have not won and there wouldn't have been any nullification. This time around, it is going to be different, bro
Politics › Re: I Didn’t Get Anything From Jonathan – Edwin Clark by midolian(op): 7:02am On Oct 28, 2015*. Modified: 7:48am On Oct 28, 2015
October to remember 