News
Clark Blasts Obasanjo Over Attacks On Jonathan
Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark has berated former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, over perceived disparaging comments against Ijaw nation, particularly former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, in “Against The Run Of Play,” a new book by former presidential spokesman, Olusegun Adeniyi.
In an open letter to Obasanjo, Clark also accused the book’s author of giving room to the former president to insult the Ijaw in perceived measure by Adeniyi to mend his strained relations with Obasanjo over “Some very unpalatable remarks about you (Obasanjo)” in the author’s earlier work, “Power, Politics and Death.”
Describing the book as a conspiracy between the author and Obasanjo to “incite other Nigerian leaders to disparage Ijaw leaders,” Clark said that Obasanjo had no justification to cast aspersions at others when he has several scandalous issues around him.
He told Obasanjo that, “in your narration in Adeniyi’s new book, there is nothing you said which you did not say in your false and self-aggrandised book containing assertions and character which you do not possess, yet you are assassinating the character and libelling patriotic and decent leaders and people of Nigeria, including innocent late President, Umaru Yar’Adua and former President, Goodluck Jonathan.
“Jonathan was my candidate, and I have a right to campaign for him, and there was nothing that we said to infuriate or insult anyone as you are falsely and maliciously impressing on Nigerians.
“You said in Adeniyi’s book, that the late DSP Alamieyeseigha, former Governor of Bayelsa State, whom you hated and destroyed, had no reason to say that ‘there’s no vacancy in Aso Rock on May 21, 2013’, when he was campaigning for Jonathan.
“Whereas another PDP leader from Niger State, Governor Babangida Aliyu, also stated on September 18, 2014, that there was no vacancy in Aso Rock when he was addressing youth of Niger State, who wanted him to contest the Presidency. Whereas also in 2003, Chief Anthony Anenih, also declared that there was no vacancy in Aso Rock because you must be returned as President of Nigeria.
“The same Anenih told Atiku during his campaign for Jonathan in 2014, that there was no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2015. As Nigerians, we are free to campaign for any candidate we believe in whether he or she is from our ethnic nationality, from our zone, from our state or the same religion as us and or political party. This is the situation all over the world,” Clark said.
Clark described as hypocritical, Obasanjo’s reference in the new book to a number of reasons he rejected former President Jonathan’s candidature, including Jonathan’s refusal to respect zoning, non-performance, introduction of pipeline contracts, and perceived poor handling of Boko Haram menace.
“Isn’t it just hypocritical that you mentioned zoning as one of the areas where you hated Jonathan? You served Nigeria as a Head of State from 1976 to 1979 before you handed over to President Shehu Shagari. Then, you came back in 1999 and served Nigeria for eight years in two terms as an elected President. Again, you said you wanted a third term, and spent Nigerian money in lobbying for a third term.
“At that time, zoning did not occur to you. You are a hypocrite I say again, always wanting the downfall of others. You are a man who should not be believed by any Nigerian. You parade yourself all over the country and world as a saint and the best President Nigeria has ever had. What a fraudulent claim,” the Ijaw leader queried.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.