Elder statesman and former minister Chief Edwin Clark made it clear during the visit of certain APC leaders to his Abuja home on Tuesday that he is still angry about the former president Goodluck Jonathan’s loss in the 2015 presidential election.
Jonathan had lost the election and the chance to serve a second term to Muhammadu Buhari, the APC candidate, who now has less than a year left in his two-term, eight-year term.
Clack, the organiser of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), is revered as the godfather of former president Jonathan.
Speaking when Delta Central Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by its National Leader, Chief Ominimini Obiuwevbi visited him in Abuja on Tuesday, Clark said Jonathan lost to Buhari in 2015 because of the conspiracy to return power to Northern Nigeria.
He alleged that Jonathan’s own PDP members from the North, led by the former National Chairman of the party Adamu Muazu were part of the grand conspiracy.
He said members of the PDP from the north only worked against Jonathan, but funded the APC its presidential candidate, Buhari.
Clark said: “Now coming home politically, Jonathan was the President for some time as the result of the death of President Yar’Adua. Jonathan ruled for about five years, he is a Christian and the northerners said it was their turn.
“From 2011, they have been worrying Jonathan. Even in 2015, the northern PDP leaders ganged up with APC, Tinubu and removed Jonathan from office. They did not campaign, Jonathan was on his own.
“So, when people say why Jonathan is not in PDP, not attending PDP meetings, I can safely say that he’s learning his lesson that the people he trusted did not trust him.
“They squandered the party’s money and left.
“So, when people say why is Jonathan not in PDP, he knows how they betrayed him: how the northern PDP governors contributed money towards Buhari’s success, how members of government betrayed him.
“The national Chairman of PDP at the time was Governor (Adamu) Mu’azu. He did not go to his hometown to campaign; he was only following Jonathan about.
“He knew what he was doing. Every one of them wanted Buhari to win. So, Buhari won. He has ruled for eight years.
Clark therefore said it is hypocritical for the same members of PDP from the North to be arguing for competence over zoning.
“It fell for the prey, they maneuvered PDP with Alhaji (Atiku) Abubakar who has been wanting to be president of Nigeria over the years, championing the cause of division. So, the PDP, a party we love, PDP a party of southern Nigeria, disappointed us.
“In 2019, 11 million people voted for Atiku Abubakar (PDP). Five million from the North, five million from the South. Now he doesn’t think that we ever did anything for him.
“So, Nigeria has changed. If anyone tells you that all is well in Nigeria that person is living in a fool’s paradise.
“I’m happy to note that you are members of the ruling party that is APC and I will give you a message to Mr. President, who is the leader of your party.”