2023: Again, Clark, Ortom publicly endorse Obi for President

Barely hours after former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in an open letter to Nigerians, endorsed the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the forthcoming Presidential election in the country, Dr Peter Obi, another elder statesman and Ijaw Nation leader, Chief Edwin Clark, in addition to Governor of Benue State, Mr. Samuel Ortom, has followed suit with approvals.

Former President Obasanjo had in his New Year Open Letter to Nigeria, released,  Sunday January 1, 2023 backed the candidate of the LP, who he said ‘has the edge’ over other candidates in the 2023 Presidential poll.

While Chief Clark, leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, (PANDEF), and chieftain of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) in the country, announced his decision during a news briefing at his Asokoro Residence, in Abuja, Tuesday, Mr Ortom, a member of the renegade Integrity Group of five state governors of the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also known as the G-5, made public his endorsement for the umpteenth time, in a six-page letter released, same Tuesday.

Ortom, who has previously lauded the candidacy at several fora, has however, made open his decision in an open letter.

Obi is running for President on the platform of the LP, in an election slated for February, this year, and faces the candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and that of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

According to Clark, his endorsement of Obi is based on traits he believes are critical to leading the country, as he cited honesty, trust and transparency, all of which, he added, Obi displayed when he was governor of Anambra State.

Clark, however, called on Obi to tackle the issues of the injustices and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region if elected as President.

”I have since been fully briefed on the successful outcome of the interaction held at that occasion. Amongst other things, I have taken note of the following observations which came out of the meeting: That PANDEF presented the expectations and demands of the peoples of the Niger Delta, comprising infrastructural development, devolution of power, resource control, effective and inclusive participation in the oil and gas sector, amongst other things, to the Presidential Candidate.

“That the vision statement shared by His Excellency Peter Obi at the occasion, as it relates to making Nigeria more productive, using the rich resource endowment in every part of the country; curbing waste and fighting corruption; and creating jobs for our teeming youths through innovative initiatives is very commendable.

“That his restated commitment to restructuring and devolution of power, will promote harmony, peaceful coexistence amongst the states and constituent parts of the country.

“That his vision for more equity and justice as it pertains to the South-South region, which in the past sixty years has produced much of the revenue for the national economy, but has been neglected with little impact in terms of infrastructure and social development, is convincing and commendable.

“Peter Obi’s commitment to environmental justice to the clean-up of the Niger Delta polluted communities is most welcomed, given that even the ongoing Ogoni clean-up has been rather slow. “His commitment to inclusion of qualified persons from the Niger Delta in the national governance process in the future government if elected into power is very reassuring,” Clark said.

The Ijaw leader’s backing is another high-profile endorsement for Obi in barely three days.

In his endorsement, Benue governor, Ortom, in a six-page letter, signed by his Media and Publicity, Terver Akase, Tuesday, said he ‘strongly recommends Peter Obi to Nigerians as the man who has the capacity to effectively tackle the economic, security and other challenges facing the country.’

According to the letter, Ortom said he is convinced that Obi ‘possesses the qualities of a leader who will be a true President of this country by guaranteeing justice, equity and fairness for all Nigerians.’

Ortom noted that the President that Nigeria needs at this “challenging time” in its history is one who understands the urgent need to unite the people and speedily initiate policies and actions to redirect the ship of the nation on the path of growth and development.

According to Ortom, ‘Peter Obi has all those qualities.’

Ortom is one of five aggrieved governors of the PDP known as the G5 or Integrity Group, seeking the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, as condition to recognise the presidential candidate, Atiku.  Others are Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).