Reacting
to Edwin Clark’s statement that he did not benefit anything from former
President, Goodluck Jonathan, a group, Ijaw Justice Forum (IJF), has
described him as ungrateful.
The
group claimed that the former Federal Commissioner for Information
received cash gifts from influential Nigerians, as a result of his closeness to
Jonathan.
Ijaw
Justice Forum, also insisted that Clark received several contracts and
preferential treatment from the administration of the former President.
Stating
some of the things Clark benefited from Jonathan, President and Secretary,
Karona Etonye and Ekenwan Akwagbe released a statement on Wednesday.
“This is the peak of ingratitude from a man, who called himself
the ‘father’ of the former president. He attracted patronage from the high and
mighty from all parts of Nigeria and received gifts of cash and kind because of
their perceived closeness of him to Dr. Jonathan.
“It is wicked and mischievous for Clark to say that he did not get
anything from the Jonathan administration, including contracts. Perhaps, Clark
made this statement to the Vanguard reporter in his dream, has he forgotten
that his company was awarded a contract for the reclamation and shore
protection of Amadi-ama community in Rivers State by the Ministry of Niger
Delta Affairs during the Jonathan era?
“It can be said and indeed correctly that Clark is the
proverbial fowl that eats and cleans its beak or mouth on the ground so that
there will be no trace of food particles on the sides of its mouth. This, he
has done to several persons that occupied public offices in the past.
“Between 1999 and 2007, Chief Clark was one of the elders that
benefitted most from the administration of Chief James Ibori in Delta State. As
it is characteristic of him, he sponsored a so-called Delta Elders and
Stakeholders’ Forum to petition the EFCC alleging that Ibori committed
monumental corrupt practices while in office.
“It is quite unfortunate that Chief Clark at 90 can peddle lies
and make them appear as if they were true. How would Clark say that he did not
ask for jobs for his children or for his relatives? Has he forgotten the note
he wrote to the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe
asking him to use his good offices to make his younger brother, Mr. Isa Clark
the Coordinator of the Sure- P programme in Delta South Senatorial District?
“Under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Chief Clark applied
for and was granted licence to establish a private university, the E. K. Clark
University in his hometown, Kiagbodo. The launching, which took place in the
Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja was attended by the who- is- who in Nigerian
politics, including Dr. Jonathan himself.”
“To complement the federal government gesture, the NDDC awarded
contract for the sinking of a bore hole in the university campus. It is
incontrovertible that he had that huge patronage because of the former
president. If he doubts it, we challenge him to come up with a new project and
see how many Nigerians of substance will attend.
“There are many more gains that Clark made in the Jonathan era,
never before in his political life has he gotten the kind of patronage he had
under Jonathan.
Ynaija
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