Foremost leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Chief Edwin Clark, has urged the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, to resign.
According to the elder statesman, Ayu was no longer fit to address himself as Chairman of the PDP following his conduct at the recently conducted presidential primary election of the party.
The former Information Minister stated this in a statement on Tuesday, dragging Ayu fpr his open commendation of Governor Aminu Tambuwal’s decision to withdraw from the contest, while declaring support for eventual winner, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
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Clark in his statement titled “Resign now: You’re no longer fit to remain PDP national chairman, Clark tells Iyorchia Ayu’, described Ayu’s open visit to Governor Tambuwal to congratulate and hail him, as “the hero of the convention” as “worse”.
“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 realize 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 Obafemi Awolowo’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.
“These happenings give strong warnings of, more likely, deleterious outcomes of the 2023 general elections, mainly the Presidential, and their aftermaths.
“Most disturbing is what happened at the special national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, in Abuja, on Saturday May 28 2022. I followed the live broadcasts of the proceedings, keenly, until about 12.30 am on Sunday 29.
“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.
“I was alarmed by the outrageous and Machiavelli manner in which Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, 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.
“Another Northern aspirant, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, a businessman from Borno State, had, earlier, also suddenly, withdrawn from the contest, citing its obscene monetization 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 Bukola Saraki, to also withdraw, while Tambuwal deliberately delayed his action till the last minute. By so doing, unduly swept his North West votes to Atiku Abubakar.
“One can now appreciate the reasons given by 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.”
