Prominent Ijaw leader and elder statesman, Edwin Clark has declared the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, a failure in the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, asking him to bow out.
Addressing journalists in Abuja Tuesday, the former Federal Commissioner said the Minister has failed to discharge his duty in line with the oath of office he took on assumption of office.
According to him, Mr. Adoke has not been advising President Goodluck Jonathan correctly and has also failed to strengthen the judicial process so as to facilitate trial of corruption cases.
Clark specifically accused the Attorney General of misadvising the President to declare partial state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, by citing the case of former Plateau Governor Joshua Dariye.
He however contended that the Supreme Court did not condemn former President Olusegun Obasanjo for suspending the democratic structures in Plateau state when he declared state of emergency contrary to what the minister made the President to believe.
His words, “Where you cannot discharge your duty, the best thing is for him to leave and go to face his personal duty”, Clark advised the Minister.
He spoke further, “Before I took this decision, I have been too patent. I have watched him for so long. In most cases he has not done well. He has not given the President good advice.
“One would have expected that in a serious matter as this, due diligence and sincerity would make it possible for public officers to give correct legal advice to Mr. President to enable him handle this case with all his inherent powers.
“from my own analysis and objective appraisal, there is nowhere in the case of Plateau state judgement referred above that the Supreme Court ruled that the suspension of democratic structures, the Attorney-General and other legal officers in the administration are in position to advice Mr. President on other measures he can adopt, such as the “doctrine of necessity” in the present circumstance and as warranted.”
The Ijaw leader also carpeted the Minister on his attitude towards fighting corruption, saying “On the issue of corruption, he has not done well.
“A good attorney General would give strength to the administration by ensuring that corrupt cases are fully prosecuted.”
