Clark, Alamieyeseigha says "Nothing can stop Jonathan’s in 2015"

LEADER of Ijaws and former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, in Lagos, on Monday, said President Goodluck Jonathan will continue in office for a second term in 2015.

Also, former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepriye Alamieyeseigha, said there is no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2015, adding that northern agitators would, at the appropriate time, join the moving train to vote Jonathan for a second term in office.

Both Clark and Alamieyeseigha spoke with newsmen at the third conference of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly, held at Eko Hotel and Suites.

Clark, who described the clamour by the North to have the slot in 2015 as improper, said Jonathan would not be laying any new precedent if he was returned to office for a second term.

According to Clark, the Nigerian constitution was clear on the number of terms every president could contest, arguing that Jonathan’s second term bid, in the opinion of the people of the South-South, was in the best interest of the country.

“Movement of power or power rotation is not proper at this time. In the constitution of Nigeria, every president has two elections to contest. Shagari did it in 1979 and in 1983, he did it again; in 1999, Obasanjo did it and in 2003, he contested again. In 2007, Umaru Yar’Adua of blessed memory did it and if he had remained alive, he would have done it again in 2011. So, Jonathan is not a different person. He’s a Nigerian and he has the right to contest again,” he further said.

Chief Clark said Nigeria belonged to all citizens, adding that there was no need for anybody to feel that he had more stake in the country than others.
“We are all equal in this country and anybody can aspire to the highest position in this country. So nobody has the prerogative to rule others,” he added.

Alamieyeseigha, while asserting that there was no vacancy in Aso Rock, gave an assurance that Jonathan would remain as the president in 2015, contrary to feelings in other quarters.

“They may have their opinion, but I can assure you that President Jonathan will remain as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, come 2015,” he said.

The former governor said the recent presidential pardon granted him by President Jonathan was a negotiated deal, saying that it was in order. Tribune