Following the emergence of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar as the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of 2023 elections, former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has asked the National Chairman of PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, to, as matter of urgency, resign his position.
In a statement he personally signed, yesterday, Clark, who is also the leader of Southern, Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) and Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), said that with the outcome of Saturday’s primary election at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, it has become imperative for Ayu to resign as he can no longer head the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP.
The elder statesman, who took a swipe at the action of Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, where he stepped down for Atiku Abubakar at the venue of the convention, stressed that what he did was not only dishonourable, but also a serious electoral abnormality and tragic betrayal of national patriotism for hidebound interests.
He argued that Tambuwal, having formally addressed the delegates, as other aspirants did within the time frame given them, would not have been allowed to speak a second time, when delegates were already preparing to cast their votes.
He said that allowing Tambuwal to speak again was a clear violation and abuse of the electoral process, and should not have been allowed to happen.
Clark, however, hailed the efforts of the Convention Committee that was chaired by former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, and his assistants, particularly, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri.
Clark’s statement read, “I decided to issue this Press Release because of the worrying occurrences in our polity vis-a-vis the dappled party primaries being conducted, across the country; the reported outrageous financial inducements of delegates and the cynical dollarisation of the electoral process. These happenings give strong warnings of, more likely, deleterious outcomes of the 2023 General Election, mainly the presidential, and their aftermaths.
“Most disturbing is what happened at the Special National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Abuja, on Saturday, May 28, 2022. I followed the live broadcasts of the proceedings, keenly, until about 12.30am on Sunday, the 29th. I was quite impressed by the efforts of the Convention Committee, which was headed by former Senate President, Senator David Mark, and his assistants, particularly, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri.
“But, sadly, the outcome of the election leaves much to be desired; it was very unjust and rather unwholesome. It will definitely impact severe, adverse ramifications on the future unity of the country.
“I was alarmed by the outrageous and Machiavelli manner in which AlhajiAminuTambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State, was so apparently ‘arranged’ to announce his withdrawal from the contest, at the last minute; his speech changed the mood of the event. That was done in order to foist another Northerner as the party’s flag-bearer; having regard to the fact that Governor AminuTambuwal was the only aspirant from the whole of the North-West, which had about 192 delegates at the convention.
“What Tambuwal did was not only dishonourable but also a serious electoral abnormality and a tragic betrayal of national patriotism for hidebound interests.
“Another Northern aspirant, Mr Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, a businessman from Borno State, had, earlier, also suddenly, withdrawn from the contest, citing its obscene monetisation as his reason; but we now know better. It is now widespread understanding that there were pressures mounted on Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and former Senate President, Senator BukolaSaraki, to also withdraw, while Tambuwal deliberately delayed his action till the last minute. By so doing, unduly swept his North-West votes to AtikuAbubakar.
“One can now appreciate the reasons given by Mr Peter Obi for his withdrawal from the PDP, both as a member, and as an aspirant, few days before the party’s primary. And I would think that what he did was, without doubt, in respect, or obedience, to the position of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum.
“Unfortunately, some aspirants from the South believed that, with the resources and facilities at their disposal, their elders no longer matter, and disregarded, with impunity, the patriotic advice on the need to be steadfast on the position of the zoning of the Presidency to the South. They never minded that what we have been advocating was in their interest. They proved themselves to be selfish and arrogant, and thought they could win on their own steam. They failed; I can only hope that they have, now, learned their lessons.
“Even much worse, in the extreme, was the action of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator IyorchiaAyu, in his open visit to Governor Tambuwal to congratulate and hail him, in his words, as ‘the hero of the convention’. This clearly reveals his partiality and predilection in the processes leading to the baffling conclusion of the PDP presidential primary. His undignified and parochial conduct, to please his Northern principals, is not only a big disgrace to the office he occupies but, also, a sad display of lewd subservience to the political subjugation of one ethnic group, in a diverse country like Nigeria.
“We had earlier suspected that he was in favour of a northern candidate, when on the day of his inauguration as national chairman, last year, he, needlessly, said during his speech, that he would resign if a Northerner emerged as the presidential candidate of the party.
“Senator Ayu has failed to realise that what we are fighting for affects all minorities in Nigeria. The Southern Nigeria relationship with the Middle Belt is well established, dating back to the First Republic, during the period of Dr. J. S. Tarka, from today’s Benue State, a founding member of the then, United Middle Belt Congress, and the strong alliance with Chief ObafemiAwolowo’s Action Group. The relationship subsisted during the Second Republic, when the minorities of the South and the minorities of the North combined to fight for a common course; the inclusion, and full participation of all minorities in the politics and governance of the country, of which I was the leader.
“Senator IyorchiaAyu’s appalling, thoughtless and unpatriotic public conduct bears grave negative consequences. He should, therefore, no longer consider himself fit and proper to retain his position as the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and should resign now.”
He had made that commitment while accepting his election, and, therefore, should keep to his pledge to resign if a Northerner emerged from the party.