Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, on Monday raised an alarm about an alleged plot by ex-governor James Ibori to assassinate him.

The elderstatesman who was visibly shaken while addressing a crowded press at Kiagbodo, his country home in Delta State amid tight security, buttressed his claim with calls and personal interaction he had with highly placed individuals, intimating him of the alleged dangerous plans by the former governor to eliminate him.

But in a swift reaction, Ibori described the accusation as “very unfortunate.”

Speaking at his Oghara country home, the former governor said: “It is very unfortunate and disappointing that Chief E.K. Clark has continued with his malicious tirade at a time when we all building peace and unity to confront our common challenges.”

In his bid to situate the alleged threat to his life, Clark said during a parley in Abuja with the vice-president on June 29, Ibori deliberately sat close to him, a situation which he said was strange, considering his political antecedents.

“Immediately after the parley, I received several calls on an arranged plan to eliminate me in order to pave way for their eventual take-over of the state chapter of the PDP and control of the political process in the state.

“At first, I did not take these phone calls asking me to be careful of Chief Ibori and assassination plot on me seriously until prominent citizens who were aware of the plot telephoned me and personally visited me at Kiagbodo to intimate me of the plot to kill me anytime from July 15 and blame it on armed bandits,” the Ijaw leader further said. The ex-information minister, however, ascribed the motive to assassinate him to his undying crusade for EFCC to prosecute Ibori for the economic crime allegedly committed against Delta State .

“Ibori believe that killing me will silence the voice of opposition in the state and establish firmly his illusionary political empire. He also believe my death will weaken his on-going trial for corruption by EFCC through constant adjournment and unwillingness of the state to prosecute the criminal charges against him.

“Despite the threat I have just received, and the personal danger I face as a result of my crusade for an egalitarian society in the Niger-Delta region, I have resolved as never before to continue the crusade against the injustice against my people. There is no amount of pressure, intimidation or dangers to my life that shall deter me from the struggle to make Delta State in particular and Niger-Delta in general a better place for us and our children,” he said.

But addressing the issue raised by Clark, Ibori in a statement signed by his media aide, Tony Eluemunor, noted that assassination allegation is a serious matter and so goes beyond the malicious propaganda and mudslinging that Chief Clark had made his stock in trade.

Ibori who said that in the past he had not bothered to reply, owing to his reverence for Clark’s age, however, noted: “If Chief Clark does not appreciate the sanctity of human life, I do, and, therefore, cannot take any life. I appreciate the fact that Chief Clark felt bad about my support for Dr. Uduaghan’s candidature, but in the end, the governor owes his subsequent election to the good people of Delta State, and so far, he has not betrayed the faith reposed in him. Even E.K. Clark will attest to that. Even, he too will appreciate that there must be a limit to unwarranted attacks on persons, whether in public or private life.

“I appreciate the fact that as an elder statesman he felt hurt that his favoured candidate did not emerge as governor. But must he persecute me all day, all week and all year, indeed forever? I alone did not constitute the Delta State electorate, neither does Chief Clark, whom I will not insult because I was brought up to revere old age. Yet, to accuse innocent persons of assassination attempt, is to carry politics way too far. Also, I am not the Almighty God; so I have no power to give or take life. All power belongs to God. The psalmist says “once has the Lord spoken and twice have I heard that power belongs to God, and He gives it to whomever He wills.”

Ibori continued: “Clark is supposed to be an elder statesman, but he has chosen the path of disunity and malice. Chief Clark, how long will it take to realize that the 2007 election is long gone and life has moved on?”

He added: “For the records, we do not want to join issues with E. K. Clark despite this latest provocation as we continue to deal with the usual challenges associated with post public life in a country like Nigeria. But really of what benefit will his death be to anybody? May he live for long and see how far even those he does not support, forge ahead in life by the sheer grace of God. Only God has all the answers and no one should play God, that includes elder statesmen or ethnic leaders.”