Leader of Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Chief Edwin Clark, on Saturday said the regional leaders adopted the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, because he agreed to restructure the country.
The Ijaw leader said the nation could not survive without restructuring and fiscal federalism.
Briefing newsmen in Abuja, the former National Commissioner said the South-South would only vote for the candidate that would restructure the country to ensure equity and justice.
He said restructuring had nothing to do with the disintegration of the country, “but the creation of a new Nigeria where every citizen is equal; a Nigeria where all the federating states or regions are able to develop at their own pace under the practice of fiscal federalism.”
He added , “We have now seen that our salvation is in restructuring. If we do not restructure this country, this country will not survive.
“Our message-if you want to restructure Nigeria, you are our man and if you do not want to restructure Nigeria, you are not our man.
“So people are wondering why we adopted Atiku. Some of our boys who think they are Jews have said dying old men have taken money from Atiku.
“The PDP presidential candidate in our discussion with him which lasted for two hours told us that he supported restructuring and he had been working for it since 1985.”
Clark admonished the South-South region to put aside sentiments, saying “I repeat, without restructuring, the South-South will die a natural death.”
The Ijaw leader assured stakeholders that restructuring of the country would not lead to the disintegration of the nation, noting that it was also not against any region.
Punch