Edwin Clark, a national Ijaw leader and convener of PANDEF, has endorsed Peter Obi of the Labor Party (LP) for president.
The endorsed Tuesday at a press conference at his residence in Abuja.
Clark urged Nigerians, regardless of their ethnic, religious and political affiliation, to stand behind Obi because he is the “best hope for a new Nigeria”.
The south-south leader said that he has entrusted himself with the responsibility of asking PANDEF and all the other groups to which it belongs to give their support to Obi.
“Taking all these factors into account and putting His Excellency Peter Obi alongside all the other candidates put forward by other political parties, I am convinced without a shadow of a doubt that our country Nigeria has a great opportunity to pick a phenomenal team, the Labor Party candidate, and his deputy, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmad, as Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively,” he said.
“I hereby formally announce that I will therefore personally vote for HE Peter Obi and his Vice Presidential candidate on Election Day, February 25, 2023, as President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I also call on all Nigerians, regardless of their ethnic, religious and even political background, to vote for HE Peter Obi without hesitation as he is our best hope for a new Nigeria of peace, stability and progress.
“I have also requested the leaders of PANDEF, as a democratic institution and all the other socio-cultural and socio-political bodies that I lead, to consult with their members at the state, local government and diaspora levels to take further steps in support of my election of HE Peter Obi.”
Speaking about PANDEF’s meeting with Obi in Bayelsa state, Clark said Obi’s plan for the South-South is compelling, adding that he is committed to environmental justice in the Niger Delta.
He said that the former Governor of Anambra’s proposal for young Nigerians in terms of job creation and innovation is commendable.
“That the vision statement shared by His Excellency Peter Obi on the occasion, as it relates to making Nigeria more productive, utilizing the rich endowment of resources in every part of the country; stop waste and fight corruption; and the creation of jobs for our many young people through innovative initiatives is highly commendable,” he said.
“That your reaffirmed commitment to the restructuring and devolution of power will promote harmony and peaceful coexistence between the states and the constituent parts of the country.
“That his vision of more equity and justice in regards to the South-South region, which in the last sixty years has produced a large part of the income of the national economy, but has been neglected with little impact in terms of infrastructure and social development. It is convincing and commendable.
“Peter Obi’s commitment to environmental justice for the cleanup of contaminated communities in the Niger Delta is very welcome, given that even the ongoing cleanup of the Ogoni has been quite slow.
“His commitment to including qualified people from the Niger Delta in the national governance process in the future government, if elected to power, is very reassuring.”
