Clark Accuses Ibrahim, Oke of Working Against Mimiko’s Defection

A former Federal Commissioner for Information and Ijaw national leader, Edwin Clark Tuesday accused business mogul, Jimoh Ibrahim and a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] in Ondo State, Olusola Oke of working against the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko from Labour Party to the PDP.
The elder statesman who was speaking during an audience with members of the South-South PDP Integration Committee led by Professor Iya Abubakar at his Abuja residence, wondered what the duo would gain by their action.
“There are members of this party [PDP] who don’t want the Ondo State Governor, Chief Olusegun Mimiko to decamp to the PDP even when the policy of the party is to bring people into the party. People like Jimoh Ibrahim and Chief Olusola Oke did everything within their powers to frustrate the decamping of Mimiko into the PDP,” he said.
He spoke further, “This would be the second time that Chief Oke would be working against the decision of the party. Remember that he went to court to challenge Mimiko’s election against the decision of the party not to do so. He went as far as the Supreme Court where he lost.
“On his own part, Jimoh Ibrahim was busy organizing people to oppose Mimiko coming into the PDP. This is not the attitude of a loyal party member. Nobody is bigger than the party. You are either in the party or you are out. But you cannot be inside and be working against the interest of the party.
“I think every responsible member of the party has a duty to work for the interest of the party which is to bring in new members into the party and reconcile aggrieved members back into the fold. Anything short of this is not acceptable.”
The Ijaw leader therefore, charged the party leadership to do more in the area of discipline of members that engage in anti-party activities.
Speaking on President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid, Clark said he is qualified to do so, citing section 37 [1b] of the 1999 constitution which provides that “a person shall not be qualified for election to the office of the president if he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections.
“If Jonathan contest and wins another four-year term in 2015, he would have self-succeeded himself as president for a cumulative period of nine years and 23 days.
“There is nowhere in the constitution where it is stated that a period a President occupies office after the death or resignation of a predecessor will be counted first term in office.
“The one year and 23 days of Umaru Yar’ Adua’s administration which Jonathan served out therefore seems to form the centrepiece of the writer’s (Ardo) argument to canvas for president Jonathan’s prevention from seeking a second term re-election.
“This again is baseless and inconsequential, as the unexpired term served out by the Vice President is duly provided for in the 1999 constitution by virtue of sections 141 and 142. It neither violates the constitution nor any known law in Nigeria.
“This argument is worthless and amounts to flogging a dying horse. The writer appears more like a man with clear vision yet requesting for a light to see clearly. The one year and 23 days bears no relevance or effect on the two terms of 8 years due for Jonathan.”
Speaking, Chairman of the PDP Integration Committee, Professor Ilya Abubakar expressed confidence that the PDP will win the 2015 general elections and form the government of the country.