LAGOS FEBRUARY 12TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark has blasted the chairman of Africa Independent Television (AIT), Chief Raymond Dokpesi and those lobbying the presidency as a possible replacement for the sacked former Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, saying the that Dokpesi is not fit and a proper person for the replacement.
Chief Clark spoke yesterday at a press briefing held at his country home of Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State following yesterday’s sack of Chief Ogiadomhe where the Ijaw leader faulted those calling for the appointment of Chief Dokpesi as the right choice for the vacant position of Chief of Staff.
He stressed that although the president is at liberty to choose whoever he wants as the new chief of staff, but added that the choice of Dokpesi is not the right man going by his antecedents where he worked against Jonathan in previous election.
Clark, a former information minister explained that events that cumulated into his strong stand against the choice of AIT Chairman started far back between the 2010 and 2011 when he worked against President Jonathan in the last general election, saying that such a person should not be appointed as the Chief of Staff.
Other sins of Dokpesi according to the elder statesman was none remorseful and unrepentant posture he had displayed even when he blatantly worked against the interest of South-South people.
He alleged that, judging by his character and antecedents, he might be a treat to the presidency if appointed because of his connection with some persons who took part in the October 1, 2010 Eagle Square bombing where many Nigerians where feared killed.
According to him, “I want to state categorically that Chief Raymond Dekpesi is not a fit and proper person to replace Chief Mike Ogiadomhe in all aspects, having regard to his antecedent. Therefore, I wish to warm those who are championing the cause or lobbying for him should put Nigeria first.
“it is being rumoured that since the resignation of Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, Chief of Staff, the name of Raymond Dokpesi has appeared in many newspapers as a likely replacement for Ogiadomhe as Chief of Staff.”
On his allegation of having connection with jailed Henry Okah and Edmund Ebiuwaren, Clark added that “I am aware of the fact that Chief Raymond Dokpesi has been a regular caller at the presidency for some time now, without showing any sense remorseful and repentance during the aggressive and notorious activities against President Jonathan between 2010 and 2011 particularly, when he was the campaign Director General of President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
“He was connected with some of the men, known and unknown who were part of October 1, 2010, bombing of Eagle Square where many innocent Nigerians were killed. Some of those persons include: Mr. Henry Okah who is serving jail terms in South Africa; his brother Charles Okah who is also facing treasonable trial in Abuja and Mr. Edmund Ebiuwaren who is serving life jail term in Abuja prison and who was alleged to have received N5million from Raymond Dokpesi.”
He stressed that Dokpesi’s grievances against President Jonathan was the refusal by the federal government to pay about N7billion owned him after the Under-17 World Cup championship held in Abuja, adding that “we have observed that shamefully, he found himself into Presidential Campaign Team when IBB, Atiku Abubakar, General Ibrahim Gusau and Dr. Bukola Saraki etc failed in their bid to stop President Jonathan re-election.”
The elder statesman however described what he termed as insult a proposed documentary where the AIT chairman asked him through his staff to contribute on how to make the President Jonathan re-election succeed in 2015.