I would have died about three months ago – Edwin Clark

…Warns Atiku, other northern presidential aspirants on zoning

Nigeria’s former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has revealed how he almost lost his life about three months ago.

Pa Clark, 94, revealed in a statement wherein he admonished former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and other northerners who have presidential ambition ahead of 2023 to jettison such idea, said zoning had been practised in the nation’s politics even before Independence.

The outspoken elder statesman said he believed God had preserved his life to help engender a better country for all Nigerians.

He said: “The recent resolution by the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum that the presidency should be zoned to the south and that those who refuse to heed to our plea/decision, should not count on our support, is wholly supported by me, as the leader.

“I would have died about three months ago. I was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a hospital for 23 days, out of which I was unconscious for about two days, before I was restored. I believe the Almighty God still wants me to stay alive to play leading roles in the efforts to make Nigeria a better nation for all of us, Nigerians.

Chief Clark who insisted that zoning the Presidency between the North and the South is the best antidote to the break-up of Nigeria and the requisite for peace and unity in the country, however said that it is the turn of the South to produce the next President in 2023 and not the North.

“Firstly, I wish to use this medium to advise my most respected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftains in the persons of former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State, and other PDP aspirants from the north, that in the interest of maintaining the unity of this country to which they have contributed so much, to re-consider their desire of wanting to contest for the Presidential election in 2023, because both by the PDP Constitution and by convention, it is now the turn of Southern Nigeria to produce the President of Nigeria, in 2023, after President Muhammadu Buhari’s 8 years. To do otherwise is to invite chaos, which will lead to the disintegration of our dear country.

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“Zoning has been practised in the nation’s policy even before Independence, when Tafawa Balewa, in 1954, was the Prime Minister, Nnamdi Azikiwe was the Governor-General. Zoning of political offices, particularly the Presidency of the country, is the best antidote to the breakup of Nigeria, and the panacea for peace and unity of the country.

Restating his position on the zoning issue, the highly revered Ijaw leader reminded the northern presidential hopefuls of events of recent memories and the folly in going ahead with their aspirations.

“The former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, under the zoning arrangement, contested the PDP Presidential Primaries in 2019, with other northern presidential aspirants, like the former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, the Governor of Sokoto State; former Senate President, David Mark; former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso; former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido; former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang; former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makafi; former Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo; former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa; former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN and Sen. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed. There was no single southern candidate that contested with them. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar won overwhelmingly with about 3,000 votes. We all supported him. Unfortunately, he lost in the general election. All that is now history.

“The issue of 2nd term for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar does not arise, because he did not win the presidential election in 2019. He is, therefore, not entitled for a second term, which is only meant for a sitting president serving first tenure. As a result, power has to return to the south. Same also applies to my respected former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki. “However, I am very happy to note that there are still some patriotic Nigerians from the North, who believe in the unity of Nigeria and are advocating for the return of power to the South in 2023. Among these patriotic Nigerians from the north are Governors Babagana Zulum of Borno State, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State, and my life-long friend, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, who is now 96 years old, while I am 94 years old.”