"I DID NOT BENEFIT ANYTHING FROM JONATHAN AS PRESIDENT"- Edwin Clark

Frontline Niger Delta leader, Chief Edwin Clark,
has faulted the report that he betrayed former
President, Goodluck Jonathan.
He was reportedly quoted as saying that the ex-
President lacked the political will to fight
corruption.
Clark, while describing the report as malicious,
said he never made such statement.
The elder statesman, who has been under fire
from associates of the former President over the
statement, said his decision to quit partisan
politics was irked by the ex-President’s defeat at
the polls.
In the letter, the former Minister of Information
cleared himself from the various allegations of
betrayal levelled against him, adding that close
associates of the former President and some party
leaders sold Jonathan out.
His words: “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.”