"Jonathan Will Run in 2015" - Chief Edwin Clark.

" - Chief Edwin Clark.

Elder statesman and former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, has said President Goodluck Jonathan will contest the 2015 presidential election as was the case with former presidents that ran for second term in office.
He also said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo is the least person in Nigeria to castigate anybody for being corrupt, adding that, “He never showed good example. What was he in 1999 when he assumed office, and today, he is one of the wealthiest men in this country?”
Speaking in Abuja yesterday, as part of activities marking his 85th birthday, which comes up today, Clark supported his position with the analogy that “former President Shehu Shagari contested the presidential election in 1979 and won and in 1983, he contested for a second term in office and won before he was ousted by the military, led by Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).
“Also former President Olusegun Obasanjo contested the presidential election in 1999 and won and later contested for a second term in office in 2003 which he also won”.
Clark therefore asked: “Why should it be different in the case of President Jonathan?”
He further argued: “Jonathan is a Nigerian. Nigerians voted for him beyond religious and cultural differences. What we should be asking is that he should perform as president in office. If he performs, and the same Nigerians vote for him, he will have another term.”
Beyond that, Clark said that Section 137 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria grants the president the right to seek a second term in office.
Asked if the constitutional relief would still subsist if the subject, by any way, had committed himself to a single term, the elder statesman said: “I am not aware whether he made any commitment to contest for only one term to Nigerians which is irrelevant at the moment. Personal promises cannot override the Constitution of Nigeria.”
Referring to the comments allegedly made by Obasanjo that there were rogues and armed robbers in the National and state Houses of Assemblies, Clark said: “Obasanjo never showed good example as far as fighting corruption is concerned. What was he in 1999 and today, what is he. He is one of the wealthiest in this country.
“Presidents build their libraries when they leave office. Look at his investment at the library; look at his investments in other areas. In the United Kingdom, parliamentarians go to jail because of a mere one thousand pounds bribe.”