Delta State elders of the Peoples Democratic Party and Stakeholders Forum on Friday accused elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, of alleged failure to execute contracts worth billions of naira awarded to a company, Panama Construction Company.
The group, led by Chief Alex Ikpeazu (State Secretary) staged a peaceful protest at the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja.
In the June 22 petition, which was addressed to the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, the petitioners alleged that, “Panama Construction Company located at 5, Swamp Road, Warri and owned by Chief Edwin Clark, characteristically abandoned the N1.4bn Reclamation/Shore Protection job at Amazama, Rivers State, given to it by the Ministry of Niger Delta even though they have been heavily mobilised to the tune of N215m on December 31, 2011.
“Similarly, Panama Construction Ltd was awarded a 10.3km Aladja-Isaba Road project in Delta State in 2006 for N595m and surprisingly, seven years after, no meaningful job has been done and as at June 3, 2013, Clark is asking for further variation to drag the value of the project he has since abandoned to over N1bn.”
Saturday PUNCH could not reach Clark for a reaction to the development.
Meanwhile, Clark has said he will never be part of any gathering where issues against President Goodluck Jonathan will be discussed.
The former Minister of Information, who is a close ally of the President, said this in a statement in Abuja on Friday.
Clark said because of this, there was no way he would be part of a political summit coming up in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, which he said was aimed at discrediting the President.
He said, “I wish to use this medium to inform the general public that I have no idea, whatsoever, about the proposed political summit said to be organised by Citizen Advocacy Group and Project Nigeria in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
“I wish to state categorically, that I cannot be party to any discussion with any group in whose imagination there is growing instability in the country.”
He said since he believed that Jonathan’s government was doing well, it would be difficult for him to sit in any gathering where issues against such government would be discussed.
He added that the Uyo summit was being put together and would be attended by the advocates and supporters of those he alleged, did not see any good thing in the administration of Jonathan.