Elder statesman and national leader of Southern and Middle Belt Forum, Chief Edwin Clark, has given reasons former president Goodluck Jonathan has refused to identify with the Peoples Democratic Party and its activities since leaving office.
According to the former First Republic federal information commissioner, former president Goodluck Jonathan, decided to shun the PDP, because he was duped by Northern PDP leaders, whom he said squandered his money and that of the party to sponsor Buhari’s election in 2015.
Clark stated this when he received Delta Central APC leaders (Delta Central APC Leaders of Thoughts -DECAT), who came on solidarity visit to his Abuja residence. Addressing the group, he said Jonathan had hardly finished his first term when his party members from the north started a gang-up against him and used the resources meant for his election in 2015 to sponsor Buhari to power.
He said Jonathan was betrayed and manipulated by northern PDP leaders. “Jonathan was the president for some time. The Northerners said it was their turn. In 2015, the northern PDP leaders ganged up with APC to remove Jonathan from office. They did not campaign. Jonathan was on his own.“So, when people say why Jonathan is not in PDP now, is not attending PDP meetings, I can simply say that he is learning his lessons that the people he trusted, did not trust him. They squandered his money, the party’s money and they left.
“So when people say, why is Jonathan not in PDP, he knows how they betrayed him; northern PDP governors contributed money towards Buhari’s success. How members of his government betrayed him.“The national chairman of the PDP at the time, Dr. Muazu, did not go to his home to campaign. He was only following Jonathan about. He knew what he was doing. Every one of them wanted Buhari to win, so Buhari won.”Clark further stressed that the agitations for a southern president was still very much alive and that people like Atiku and others championing for power to remain in the north are the true enemies of Nigeria sowing seeds of discord.
“We are saying that up till today, we still believe in a Southern President. So, that is why some of us have said the APC that we never wanted to talk about is the one that have listened to us by zoning presidency to the south? He (Buhari) has ruled for 8 years. Now the same northern leaders are now saying, competence, no zoning, integrity, no zoning.“We thought it was a play but they maneuvered in PDP for Mr Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who has been wanting to be Nigeria’s president over the years, championing the cause of division. So, PDP, a party we loved, a party of southern Nigeria, disappointed us.“In 2019, eleven million people voted for Atiku Abubakar’s PDP. Five million from the north, five million from the south. He now believes he can achieve anything. So, the seventeen governors met in Asaba at the Government House. One government provided the secretariat and they issued a communique that the southern Nigeria must have the president in 2023,” he said.He further narrated how governors and leaders of Southern Nigeria issued several communiques and agreed that power must be zoned to the South but Atiku, including the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, who hosted the first meeting and other leaders of the party in the north, jettisoned the calls.“Atiku has been kicking against Jonathan’s presidency since 2010. He said it was their turn. But today, the same Atiku and his people are now saying, integrity. We issued a statement that no southern governor, Senator, House of Representatives member or minister should accept being a running mate of a northern presidential candidate.“Who is Atiku, who thinks that he is very important? That people like us when we speak, he will not listen? A good leader must be the one that listens to calls. So, if you become president, what will you do? We all own this country. We didn’t come to settle with northerners,” he said.While telling the Delta APC group that came to consult him on the way forward for the 2023 general elections that he was happy for their visit, he said his only grouse was Tinubu’s choice of running mate.He said, “I am therefore very happy that you come to brief me and to give the organisation (Southern and Middle Belt Leaders) your support. They will hear. I will table your message in the next meeting. But the only thing your party (APC) has done that has made me to withdraw my support, is its Muslim-Muslim ticket. I won’t talk about it.”
