ELDER Statesman, Chief E. K Clark, has described the House of Representatives motion that directed the Inspector General of Police to arrest and investigate Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo and Mr. Kingsley Kuku for their alleged inflammatory and seditious statements as one sided and discriminatory.
He noted that the House had not condemned similar provocative, seditious and more inflammatory statements made by some Nigerian leaders especially Northern leaders “more so when some of the incitements arising from such statements are presently causing some security problems in the country today.
Naming Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Gen. Mohammedu Buhari, (rtd), Shehu Sani, Lawal Kaita, Mallam Gambo Ibramim Gujungu, Farouk Aliyi and others among Northern leaders who had in time past made “similar and more provocative” statements, Clark, in a letter to the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Aminu Tambuwal and made available to newsmen in Warri, said: “I support the House of Representatives for condemning the alleged statements made by my two sons, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo and Honourable Kingsley Kuku. We need peace in Nigeria and support only democratically elected government.
“You all know the stand of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, Presidential, National Assembly and Gubernatorial elections have been conducted in a free and fair atmosphere. President Jonathan said that no one should be killed for him because of elections. He believes in one man one vote and Nigerians reacting to his genuineness, sincerity and honesty of purpose turned out massively to vote for him in 2011. No one forced them.
“Consequent upon this, Gubernatorial Elections have been held in Anambra, Edo and Ondo states where opposition Parties won the elections. President Jonathan campaigned in these three areas, where he advised the people to cast their votes without intimidation, molestation and harassment. He did not use his enormous power under the Constitution to impose PDP candidates on the electorate.
“Similarly, I know that in any free and fair election held in 2015, the same President Jonathan will accept any decision if it is the wish of Nigerians to either accept him or reject him at the poll. He will be the last person to cause any crisis and to make Nigeria ungovernable for his successor, the opposition party, if it wins the elections in 2015. It is, therefore, unwarranted, uncalled for and irresponsible if such careless statements were made.
“However, I am happy to note that Honourable Kuku has categorically denied ever making such statement in the USA and I believe him. It must be realized that Honourable Kuku is an Ijaw man and has represented his people in the Ondo state House of Assembly and has been the secretary of a peace committee setup by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s Administration in 2007. Today, he is the special adviser to Mr. President on Niger Delta affairs. His alleged statement therefore came to me as a surprise. But I am happy that he has denied it.
“As for Alhaji Asari Dokubo, we all know about his controversial statements. Asari Dokubo who is a devout Muslim does not spare anybody if he feels that something is wrong somewhere. When he talked about the recent developments, he said that he is not talking about the General Presidential Elections but that he is talking about the PDP Party Primary Elections, about the gang up of some politicians who wish to prevent President Goodluck Jonathan from participating freely in the 2015 PDP Primary Elections that will take place by the end of the year or early next year because some prominent Northern Nigerians have stated that “there will be no Nigeria if a Northern is not elected as the president of Nigeria in 2015. I think and believe that this is the reaction of Asari Dokubo.
“But again Mr. Speaker and others Honourable members, I wish to draw your attention to a statement made by the same Alhaji Asari Dokubo criticizing President Goodluck Jonathan which was applauded by Mr. President’s political opponents and detractors, in December 2012 were he said: ‘Jonathan will lose 2015 Election: President Goodluck Jonathan will lose the 2015 election because he is surrounded by greedy people and he has turned against the key people who helped his ascendency to the presidency. We must speak out on issues that are very critical to the survival of our people, the survival of the people of the South-South and the Southeast, which is the political base of Goodluck Jonathan. Jonathan is surrounded by very greedy people who are only in the presidency to enrich themselves at the expense of Goodluck himself. If we don’t talk and we continue to brush it aside, tomorrow we will be blame; and the people will say: ‘Mujahid Asari –Dokubo was around when President Goodluck Jonathan was President, and he did not talk’. Then I will be an accomplice and accessory after the fact.’”
According to Clark, “the political opponents and the detractors regarded Alhaji Asari-Dokubo than as one of the greatest, most detribalized and forth right Nigerians. Once again, I support the House of Representative’s condemnation of Honourable Kingsley Kuku’s and Ajhaji Asari-Dokubo’s statements because in accordance with section 4, Sub- section 2, of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which states that ‘The National Assembly has the power to make laws for the peace, order the good government of the Federation’.
“However, one will like to express strong reservations on the House’s reaction which seems to be one sided and discriminatory because the House had not condemned similar provocative, seditious and more inflammatory statements made by some Nigerian leaders especially Northerners more so when some of the incitements arising from such statements are presently causing serious security problems in Nigeria today. Mr. Speaker and my most respected Hounourable members, I demand to know why the most respected Green Carpet House did not react to such statements. It is only a satisfactory answer that will place the House above sectional, tribal, political and religious influence.
He quoted the following Northern leaders to have stated thus in time past: Shehu Sani: ‘President Goodluck Jonathan should not contemplate contesting the 2011 election. Any attempt by him to contest amounts to incitement and a recipe for political instability.’
Lawal Kaita, former Governor of Kaduna State: ‘The North is determined, if it happens, to make the country ungovernable for President Goodluck Jonathan or any other Southerner who finds his way to the seat or power on the platform of the PDP… Jonathan has to go and he will go. Even if he uses incumbency power to get his nomination on the platform of the PDP, he would be frustrated out.’
Gen Muhammadu Buhari(rtd): ‘There may be no Nigeria. I draw parallel with Somalia so many times (Somalisation of Nigeria)’
Mallam Adamu Ciroma: ‘…Ciroma threatens Southern Nigeria with new Dan Fodio… Like you know the Hausa land was in crisis for over 200 years and God brought Usman Danfodiyo… For me, I have no doubt and I have not lost my faith that God can still bring the person that will clean the mess we are in now…’
Speaking further, Clark said: “it is pertinent for me to add here that these inciting statements by these Northern leaders and politicians were not made in vain, they were matched by actions. The crisis that followed the 2011 election results was devastating. Election violence erupted in some parts of the North. Ten Youth Corp members including my nephew Mr. Elliot Adowei, whom I educated at the University of Calabar, were killed in Bauchi. The Boko Haram sect is still killing, maiming and has become a terrorist gang in the Northern part of the country. But the House which has the power under the Constitution to make law for the peace and stability of the country, has not cried out loud enough of about these acts of terrorism in the country.”
