Why Elders Of Geopolitical Zones Adopted Atiku ― Clark

LEADER of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, has explained that the leaders of the different geopolitical zones in the country are backing the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in this weekend’s election because of his plan to restructure the country.

Recall that PANDEF, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere, the Middle Belt Forum and the Northern Elders and Stakeholders Forum, recently adopted Atiku as their consensus candidate for the election.

Receiving leaders of the indigenes of the South-South resident in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), at the weekend in Abuja, the one time Federal Commissioner, argued that even though the All Progressive Congress (APC) had set up committee on restructuring, the ruling party has no plan to follow up on it good recommendations.

The delegation which was made of leaders from Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa and Rivers, said they had come to Clark to convey the solidarity of their people on the decision of the elders to adopt Atiku since restructuring, resources control, poverty alleviation, tackling unemployment and the economy are the things that should influence the choice of a presidential candidate in the February 16th elections.

Clark remarked that Atiku is the only sincere person that believes in restructuring and that the elders also wanted somebody who is physically and mentally fit and is able to represent Nigeria anywhere.

He said just like President Muhammadu Buhari believes if Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria, he believes without restructuring the country will not survive.

“Our salvation is with the restructuring of this country. President Buhari said if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us but I am saying If we don’t restructure this country, this country will not survive,” he said.

The 92-year-old foremost Ijaw nationalist who said he is enjoying the surplus time granted to him by God was of the opinion that the fight is not for himself but for the next generation and the ones unborn.

According to him, “without restructuring we are endangered species, we are dying out.

This country belongs to all of us and the moment we begin to feel we are not important in this country, it means we are slaves.”

He added: “Our message is that if you want to restructure Nigeria you are our man if you don’t want to restructure then you not a man.

“Those who said we have taken money from Atiku to take this position, fail to realize I can feed them and their households.”

Clark further recalled: “We noted with satisfaction that a northern committee made up of eminent personalities and traditional rulers, called the Northern Committee on Restructuring, was set up under the chairmanship of His Excellency, RT. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, the Governor of Sokoto State.

“We also noted that the All Progressive Congress (APC), the Political Party at the centre equally set up a similar powerful committee on Restructuring under the chairmanship of the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai at the end, the committee submitted its report.

“As a matter of fact, the reports of both committees were similar to that of the 2014 constitutional conference.

“The APC committee was hailed and congratulated by some of us, but the report died a natural death because Mr President, Muhammadu Buhari, does not believe in the restructuring of this country.”

The former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, who also spoke at the occasion, noted that restructuring is at the heart of the issues concerning the South-south geopolitical zone of Nigeria, noting that “the goose which has been laying the golden egg must not be allowed to starve will die.”

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