Elder statesman and former Federal Commissioner of Information, Edwin Kiagbodo Clark on Thursday joined the call for dialogue between the Federal Government and the extremist group, Boko Haram.

The South-South leader who addressed the media as part of activities marking his 85th birthday blamed the activities of the sect on the spate of corruption in the country.

“These young men (members of Boko Haram), wherever they are should open their faces, let us know who they are and let the government negotiate with them,” Mr Clark said.

He disagreed on insinuation that the alleged 2015 Presidential ambition was the cause of increased activities of Boko Haram, stating that the insurgence of the Islamic Sect in Nigeria had pre-dated the emergence of Goodluck Jonathan as President.

Jonathan can contest again

Mr Clark said that the President Jonathan can contest to remain in office in 2015.

He said section 137 of the Nigerian constitution permits Mr Jonathan to seek re-election in 2015.

Making his point, the Ijaw leader stated that, “former President Shehu Shagari contested the presidential election in 1979 and won and in 1983, he contested for a second term in office and won before he was ousted by the military, led by Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). Also former President Olusegun Obasanjo contested the presidential election in 1999 and won and later contested for a second term in office in 2003 which he also won.”

“Why should it be different in the case of President Jonathan?” he asked.

He further argued that “Jonathan is a Nigerian. Nigerians voted for him beyond religious and cultural differences. What we should be asking is that he should perform as president in office. If he performs, and the same Nigerians vote for him, he will have another term.”

He said for anyone to be disqualified from contesting elections to be Nigerian president “you must have contested the election twice, won twice and ruled for eight years like Obasanjo (former President Olusegun Obasanjo).”

On the pledge made by the president during the campaigns for the 2011 election, that he will not be seeking another term, Mr  Clark said whether he (President Jonathan) made commitments to people that he would not seek a re-election “is irrelevant”.