A former Federal Commissioner of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, has faulted those describing President Goodluck Jonathan as an ambitious politician, reminding them that when he was chosen to be the running mate to late President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2007, the then governor of Bayelsa State rejected his nomination.
He said instead of being a vice president, Jonathan said he was content with being the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for Bayelsa State that same year.
The Ijaw leader said it took a lot of persuasion for President Jonathan to accept to be the running mate to the late Yar’Adua, adding that if he were to be ambitious as being alleged, he would have jumped at the offer immediately it was mooted to him.
Clark spoke in Abuja on Monday at his residence, when he received a group known as Federal Capital Territory Indigenes and Geo-Political Forum Leaders.
The elder statesman pointed out that despite the pressure from several quarters on the president to formally declare for second term, he has refused, saying such trait was not common in Nigerian leaders.
Clark said, “This is the first time we have a president that is not ambitious. Nigerians are asking him to openly declare for 2015 but he has refused.
“There is peace in Nigeria despite the fact that some people have been planning to make the country ungovernable. We are not in a country whereby only one region or section would be ruling.
“Jonathan didn’t want to become of President of Nigeria, just like Gen. Yakubu Gowon. Jonathan was not ambitious. It was the South-South people who provide the most resources of the country and should therefore be involved in the running and managing of the resources”.