CAR GIFT: UDUAGHAN, CLARK WAR DEEPENS

The verbal war between Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and former federal commissioner for information, Chief Edwin Clark, over the gift of a car to the elder statesman deepened on yesterday with the governor insisting he did not give out any car.

Clark, in a statement on Thursday by his political adviser, Chief Chris Obiuwevbi, had alleged that some persons, on behalf of the Delta State government brought an unregistered new Ford Expedition Jeep into the compound of the statesman in Asokoro, Abuja.

The aide added: 'One of the persons later came to inform Chief Clark that the car was a birthday gift from Governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan of Delta State.

The federal commissioner who said he appreciated the gesture however rejected the car gift calling it a Greek gift.'

But the state government fired back yesterday claiming that the elder statesman made 'a blunder' by playing to the gallery without cross-checking his facts stressing that the state government never gave out any car gift to anyone.

Speaking on behalf of the governor, his communications manager, Paul Odili said: 'Delta State government is completely unaware of the car he is claiming was sent to him by the government.'

The statement stated that the government only 'gave N18 million to 'The Edwin Kiagbodo Clark Foundation' following a letter dated July 19, 2010 from them to the government soliciting support for the takeoff of the foundation.' The statement added: 'Whether the Foundation decided to buy a car for Chief Clark is entirely the decision of that body and has nothing whatsoever to do with the Government.

'Chief Clark was obviously in a hurry to score points without realizing that the alleged car did not come from Delta State government. Perhaps now that the faux pas has occurred, Chief Clark should take the time to investigate properly the source of the car, and not drag Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who has always treated him as a father, into a pointless controversy.'