FORMER Minister of Petroleum,
Professor Tam David-West has declined to retract and apologise to former Federal
Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark for calling him patch-patch
Ijaw.
Professor Tam David-West has declined to retract and apologise to former Federal
Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark for calling him patch-patch
Ijaw.
Rather,
David-West said he would release more damning facts about the Ijaw leader if
the latter betrays any feeling he wants to fight him.
David-West said he would release more damning facts about the Ijaw leader if
the latter betrays any feeling he wants to fight him.
Clark,
had through his lawyer, Kayode Ajulo on August 2, demanded that David-West
should within seven days retract a part of an interview he granted The News magazine titled: Jonathan A Serial Liar – David
–West, in which he described
Clark as patch-patch Ijaw.
had through his lawyer, Kayode Ajulo on August 2, demanded that David-West
should within seven days retract a part of an interview he granted The News magazine titled: Jonathan A Serial Liar – David
–West, in which he described
Clark as patch-patch Ijaw.
But the
fiery professor of virology, in a telephone interview with Sunday Independent said he would not retract anything
instead; he would release a fresh file he has on Clark. “If Clark wants to
fight war with me I will finish him. I have a file on him which I have not
used. He should not give me seven days. He should give me seven minutes. ”
fiery professor of virology, in a telephone interview with Sunday Independent said he would not retract anything
instead; he would release a fresh file he has on Clark. “If Clark wants to
fight war with me I will finish him. I have a file on him which I have not
used. He should not give me seven days. He should give me seven minutes. ”
According
to David-West, there was nothing to retract because what he said about Clark
was true.
to David-West, there was nothing to retract because what he said about Clark
was true.
“What
does he want me to retract? He is patch-patch Ijaw. This is true. I said he is
not partial Ijaw. When you said somebody is partial, it means half and half.
And I stand by it that Clark cannot wave Ijaw flag that he is Ijaw and he loves
Jonathan more. My father and mother are Ijaws. Clark is patch-patch Ijaw, patch-patch
because only his father is Ijaw. His mother, grand mother are Urhobos and
Itsekiris,” he said.
does he want me to retract? He is patch-patch Ijaw. This is true. I said he is
not partial Ijaw. When you said somebody is partial, it means half and half.
And I stand by it that Clark cannot wave Ijaw flag that he is Ijaw and he loves
Jonathan more. My father and mother are Ijaws. Clark is patch-patch Ijaw, patch-patch
because only his father is Ijaw. His mother, grand mother are Urhobos and
Itsekiris,” he said.
David-West
also denied Clark’s insinuation that his criticism of Jonathan was borne out of
envy.
also denied Clark’s insinuation that his criticism of Jonathan was borne out of
envy.
“What
is Jonathan that I will envy him? Jonathan was in secondary school while I was
a Commissioner. Envy him for what? Age, I’m older than him. Education wise I’m
more senior to him. Jonathan left secondary school in 1975 then I was the
Commissioner for Education in Rivers State. I was in government before him. Let
Clark pick what I said about Jonathan and criticise me. I have been professor
since 1974. Jonathan had his PhD over 10 years after I have been professor.
Even by birthright, there is nothing in Jonathan to envy. Clark should shut up.
Clark is defending Jonathan because he is getting money from him,” he said.
is Jonathan that I will envy him? Jonathan was in secondary school while I was
a Commissioner. Envy him for what? Age, I’m older than him. Education wise I’m
more senior to him. Jonathan left secondary school in 1975 then I was the
Commissioner for Education in Rivers State. I was in government before him. Let
Clark pick what I said about Jonathan and criticise me. I have been professor
since 1974. Jonathan had his PhD over 10 years after I have been professor.
Even by birthright, there is nothing in Jonathan to envy. Clark should shut up.
Clark is defending Jonathan because he is getting money from him,” he said.
He also
dismissed Clark’s claim that he never said David-West had no house in his home
town. “I have the proof. He said look at me, I’m criticising Jonathan. I don’t
even have a house in my town. I don’t say things without documents. If I don’t
have a house is that a curse? I’m saying that I was Oil Minister, Minister of
Mines, Power and Steel, Commissioner for Education. If an Oil Minister doesn’t
have a house, is that an abuse? I was in a position to make money, millions of
money. Companies have offered to build houses for me and I refused. I have
their letters,” he said.
dismissed Clark’s claim that he never said David-West had no house in his home
town. “I have the proof. He said look at me, I’m criticising Jonathan. I don’t
even have a house in my town. I don’t say things without documents. If I don’t
have a house is that a curse? I’m saying that I was Oil Minister, Minister of
Mines, Power and Steel, Commissioner for Education. If an Oil Minister doesn’t
have a house, is that an abuse? I was in a position to make money, millions of
money. Companies have offered to build houses for me and I refused. I have
their letters,” he said.
The
professor of virology also said he was prepared for whatever legal battle Clark
has for him.
professor of virology also said he was prepared for whatever legal battle Clark
has for him.
“If
Clark knows that I have defamed him or libelled him, he is a lawyer, he knows
what to do. He should go to a lawyer to write to me. I have not got any letter
from his lawyer. Even if I have it, I will ignore it let him go to court. I
will meet him in court. He is a lawyer. He should go to court to prove his
case. Clark is not worth fighting. I know the writer JP Clark. I know the
ambassador. These are respectable people that are close to me. Not Clark, the
politician. You don’t do legal battle on the pages of newspapers,” he said.
Clark knows that I have defamed him or libelled him, he is a lawyer, he knows
what to do. He should go to a lawyer to write to me. I have not got any letter
from his lawyer. Even if I have it, I will ignore it let him go to court. I
will meet him in court. He is a lawyer. He should go to court to prove his
case. Clark is not worth fighting. I know the writer JP Clark. I know the
ambassador. These are respectable people that are close to me. Not Clark, the
politician. You don’t do legal battle on the pages of newspapers,” he said.
Source: Daily Independent
