The National Leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF,
Edwin Clark has insisted that there is no rift between the immediate past
President, Goodluck Jonathan and Bayelsa state Governor, Seriake Dickson.
Clark, who described the rift as mischievous, stressed that
it is meant to cause disaffection between the two and to create tension in
Bayelsa State.
In a statement he signed and issued in Abuja, Clark said,
“In the past few days, the media have been inundated with stories about a
so-called rift between a former President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and
the Governor of Bayelsa.
“As a father to both of these important Nigerians, I
categorically want to state that these reports are the handiwork of fifth
columnists.
“It is the handiwork of persons who are deliberately out for
mischief by creating disaffection between these two sons of mine.
“As we all know, Jonathan has continued to maintain a fair
level of dignified silence as expected of a statesman and he is working
assiduously towards ensuring peaceful development of this country.
“Lately, he became an acclaimed global citizen and
international statesman with presence in almost all the continents.
“This is obviously a source of envy and discomfort to some
who are now the purveyors of these stories of supposed rift.’’
The elder statesman further noted that Dickson on his part
was working assiduously to see to the development of the state and had no time
for such frivolities.
“As can be attested by Retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Prof. Wole
Soyinka, acclaimed writer, and Prof. J. P. Clark, following our recent journey
to Bayelsa, Dickson is doing a great job, ” he said.
By Seun Opejobi
