Send confab, APC panel reports to N’Assembly, Clark tells Buhari

The convener and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Chief
Edwin Clark, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to harmonise
the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference and the
Governor Nasir el-Rufai-led All Progressives Congress’ report on
restructuring for immediate implementation before the 2019 general
elections.

The Ijaw national leader, who spoke at his country home in
Kiagbodo on Saturday in an interview with The PUNCH, also urged the
opposition Peoples Democratic Party to come up with its report as
the ruling APC had done.

Clark stated, “We appreciate the turnaround of the APC. El-Rufai
never wanted restructuring; he said those that called for
restructuring were opportunists looking for jobs. We criticised him
(El-Rufai) then for insulting former leaders like General Yakubu
Gowon and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who spoke in favour of
restructuring of this country.

“I was surprised because when he (El-Rufai) was appointed as the
chairman of the APC committee, we had doubts because of his
position on restructuring. But let’s appreciate and congratulate
them for having a change of mind. But the question is, are they
sincere and honest? If they are, let the Federal Government set up
a committee to look into the implementation of the recommendations
because there is no difference between the APC report and the 2014
national conference report.”

The elder statesman also supported the recent letter by former
President Olusegun Obasanjo and urged President Buhari not to seek
a second term in office, adding that those promoting the second
term agenda were not doing Mr. President any good.

He said, “I have listened to Obasanjo’s message to Nigerians. As
far as I am concerned, majority of the issues raised in his message
are the things that Nigerians are worried about. But the messenger
is not the type of person that should deliver this type of message.
Obasanjo was not a good leader. Firstly, he introduced corruption
into the National Assembly.

“I said most of the things said by Obasanjo are the same things
Nigerians have been talking about. For many months, President
Buhari was in Britain for treatment, but I was shocked that the man
barely arrived in Nigeria when those of them promoting him started
campaigning for a second term.

“Those of them who are saying they want Buhari are not sincere
with him. We are not talking about being competent or not being
competent. I have always supported his anti-corruption crusade, his
sincerity and honesty of purpose, and his body language on
corruption; but these are not enough to govern a big country like
Nigeria.”

The convener and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Chief
Edwin Clark, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to harmonise
the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference and the
Governor Nasir el-Rufai-led All Progressives Congress’ report on
restructuring for immediate implementation before the 2019 general
elections.

The Ijaw national leader, who spoke at his country home in
Kiagbodo on Saturday in an interview with The PUNCH, also urged the
opposition Peoples Democratic Party to come up with its report as
the ruling APC had done.

Clark stated, “We appreciate the turnaround of the APC. El-Rufai
never wanted restructuring; he said those that called for
restructuring were opportunists looking for jobs. We criticised him
(El-Rufai) then for insulting former leaders like General Yakubu
Gowon and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who spoke in favour of
restructuring of this country.

“I was surprised because when he (El-Rufai) was appointed as the
chairman of the APC committee, we had doubts because of his
position on restructuring. But let’s appreciate and congratulate
them for having a change of mind. But the question is, are they
sincere and honest? If they are, let the Federal Government set up
a committee to look into the implementation of the recommendations
because there is no difference between the APC report and the 2014
national conference report.”

The elder statesman also supported the recent letter by former
President Olusegun Obasanjo and urged President Buhari not to seek
a second term in office, adding that those promoting the second
term agenda were not doing Mr. President any good.

He said, “I have listened to Obasanjo’s message to Nigerians. As
far as I am concerned, majority of the issues raised in his message
are the things that Nigerians are worried about. But the messenger
is not the type of person that should deliver this type of message.
Obasanjo was not a good leader. Firstly, he introduced corruption
into the National Assembly.

“I said most of the things said by Obasanjo are the same things
Nigerians have been talking about. For many months, President
Buhari was in Britain for treatment, but I was shocked that the man
barely arrived in Nigeria when those of them promoting him started
campaigning for a second term.

“Those of them who are saying they want Buhari are not sincere
with him. We are not talking about being competent or not being
competent. I have always supported his anti-corruption crusade, his
sincerity and honesty of purpose, and his body language on
corruption; but these are not enough to govern a big country like
Nigeria.”