Fears of a possible rift between President Goodluck Jonathan and elder-statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, were being expressed yesterday, following the seeming rejection of Clark’s nominee to represent the South-South geopolitical zone in the federal cabinet.

As at yesterday, no nomination had been made but there were indications that Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State may have an upper hand on the issue. Clark, it was learnt, was meanwhile, being appeased by presidential aides with the offer of ambassadorial and other appointments in the new government.

Governor Amaechi, it was learnt, was favoured because of his new position as Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF. As chairman of the NGF, the governor is expected to be the link between the President and the nation’s powerful group of governors and is being favoured to produce the candidate for the zone.

The seeming inclination of the President is, however, raising apprehension among associates of Chief Clark and in the presidency over fears that some aides of the President may deliberately be aiming to cause a division between the Ijaw elder-statesman and the President.

Until now, the relationship between Clark and the President has been uneventful. That was despite the friction between Clark and the mainstream of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Delta State.

Associates of both men are, however, anxious of a possible deterioration in the once cordial relations if presidential minders are able to put a wedge between both men.

Pointers were also being made yesterday to the fact that former President Olusegun Obasanjo successfully positioned the two nominees from Ogun State and influenced the nomination of other nominees from some other states.

The desire between Clark and Amaechi to appoint the South-South nominee is believed to be a thorny issue for the President. Not only is Amaechi chairman of the Governors” Forum, he was also helpful in turning out some of the biggest votes for the President from the South-South.

Clark on his part was also instrumental behind the scene in mobilizing support for the President especially with his allies in the North in paving way for the President”s acceptance by the mainstream of the north before the election.

I see no problem with this rift. I actually support it.

^^^Gbam

Good let there be a rift. Its time the President stop listening top Clark and just dump that old fat hag to the side. That man is known for nothing but trouble. He should go back and sit his asss down in his village.

Pres Jonathan needs to deal wisely with Clark. That man is like Obj in the SS.

The ugly troll has been a major source of problems for the Ndigbo in the South-South.

jonathan, i think u should be more worried about the bombings in the country and not clark

just arrest clark for treason would do just fine, clark said he hates a particular group in the country and i think he should have been arrested all this days for such a statement

^^^^^

Which group did he say he hated?

what or who is clerk oh am sorry clark?

Gej av 2 proved dat he cant b pushed around

Gej no get balls. He will soon succumb to his master.

If we must tell the truth, gej is showing breaking away from the shackles of the old cabals. He's been heeding to the nominations of the people at the detriment of his supposed friends. For instance, anyim instead of maduekwe, mulikat instead of muraina.

nigeria

Musiwa,.:

why should amachie or clark pick people for jonathan. cant jonathan pick who ever he likes,  jonathan as to pick wo ever he want

God bless u. . . Abi jonathan sef no fit think?

Power has eaten deep into people's hearts that they don't reason again. A common citizen telling the GCFRN who and who not to nominate. He's an ldiot.

Some of you guys just talk without hearing yourselves. You don't break away from a criminal friend with force.

GEJ is not Nigeria. Not one man show. But Nigeria's burden is on his head. He is very smart. If you know what he knows, you will ask him to move even more cautiously. GEJ needs both Clark & AMAECHI

IbegbuPI:

Some of you guys just talk without hearing yourselves. You don't break away from a criminal friend with force.

GEJ is not Nigeria. Not one man show. But Nigeria's burden is on his head. He is very smart. If you know what he knows, you will ask him to move even more cautiously. GEJ needs both Clark & AMAECHI

Good.

do away with all the old fools,lets see if heavens will fall

lagcity:

Pres Jonathan needs to deal wisely with Clark. That man is like Obj in the SS.

Rubbish!!! He could not even deliver his state. Uduaghan broke all his wings. He is a toothles dog.
Thums up to GEJ. Reject any thing that comes from that Baba.

Edwin Clark has nothing to offer, I am in support of it as a southerner.

my problem is not who picks,the problem is who is picked.

i dey laf kungualo kekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekekeke

Whether we like it or not, Pa clark remains the only credible elderstateman in 9ja. These uninformed propaganda against man that respects the sanctity of the presidents office and not Gej cannot stand! Pa Clark, unlike many Nigerian politicians, deemed it wise not to abuse the relationship wit Gej. Some people in thier characteristic manner, sees it as a weakness. Oh Nigerians!. In all this propaganda, I hope the president will be wise enough to realise that.

It is not easy to balance the political books. How do you do it. Edwin Clark is important whether GEJ likes it or not. If this was a country of values you'd just Strauss-Khan him out of the way but nothing moves us. Get that man angry and once again the threats of making the country ungovernable begins to appear. That's why the era we find ourselves cannot be perfect. I personally feel his type together with traditional institutions, godfatherism et. al should be abolished but who will support me on this, no one.

There will always be power brokers and men of influence in every political theatre but its far too brazen and distractive in Nigeria. Clarke is very important in the ND struggle but where does the government place him. This is a tough question. Will you readily swap that appointment with your goose that lays the golden egg. Whether we like it or not the President and the State will have to negotiate with these fellows and these sourly groups for the foreseeable future. What it needs to do is to ensure that proper institutions are built and the personality cult in our politics watered down.

When in the future it is not certain the house will approve any candidate Mr. President sends then few including Clarke will bother to nominate. But when the house is just a poultry full of 'yes' men then mediocrity spills all over. And when the jobs of these nominees become too difficult for politicians to handle then the right people will shine through. I suppose we have all been watching the screening of these ministers and I must admit even the few enlightened ones simply let me down. Why won't Edwin take a shot.

Meldrick:

Rubbish!!! He could not even deliver his state. Uduaghan broke all his wings. He is a toothles dog.
Thums up to GEJ. Reject any thing that comes from that Baba.

he doesn't need to deliver any state to make things really uncomfortable for GEJ. did Obj deliver any state? i don't know about him being a toothless bulldog. even if he is, GEJ shld keep him on a close watch. u don't want that kind of "toothless bulldog" running around destroying your development and peace efforts in the ND. it is wise to keep your enemies on a close watch. that is different from bending to clark's will like an invertebrate.

The last time, it was btw Clark and Anenih. Abeg make them go kill themselves.

doncholino:

Whether we like it or not, Pa clark remains the only credible elderstateman in 9ja. These uninformed propaganda against man that respects the sanctity of the presidents office and not Gej cannot stand! Pa Clark, unlike many Nigerian politicians, deemed it wise not to abuse the relationship wit Gej. Some people in thier characteristic manner, sees it as a weakness. Oh Nigerians!. In all this propaganda, I hope the president will be wise enough to realise that.

are you a comedian?

To all those who said that GEJ is weak, what about this one

Clark has been a major source of headaches for the Ndigbo just like his mentor Adaka Boro.

Clark commands respect in ijaw land only not ND.