Mixed reactions have greeted remarks by Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark who accused former president Goodluck Jonathan of lacking the willpower to combat corruption during his tenure.
Clark, 88, the most prominent of Jonathan’s supporters in the last administration, said he was quitting partisan politics to assume the role of an elder statesman.
The former Federal commissioner for Information in the First Republic, said “Jonathan didn’t have the political will-power to fight corruption. He’s too much a gentleman. Drivers of yesterday are living in palatial buildings now under his government. In advanced countries, when you are living above your means, people query you. That’s not so in Nigeria. Former governors and lawmakers are now asking for immunity. Jonathan meant well for this country, but the will power to fight corruption was not there.”
However, notable Nigerians expressed divergent views on the issue, including a chieftain of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; one time minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope; Coordinator of Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG), Comrade Joseph Evah and ex-militants under the auspices of Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF).
