Ijaw Leader Clark Decries Injustice Against South East Nigeria
…. calls for implementation of 2014 Confab report
The Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has decried what he called “injustice” against the South East in the Nigerian project.
Clark, who made his feelings known on Thursday, asserted that the Igbos deserve more than what they are getting from the Nigerian nation.
The one time National Commissioner, therefore, called on President Tinubu to implement the 2014 National Conference report, which recommended the restructuring of the country.
The Ijaw leader stated this in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, titled, “A call for the urgent implementation of 2014 National Conference report to fully reintegrate the Igbos and the political release of Nnamdi Kanu as the case of Miyetti Allah President, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejo.”
Clark observed that said the South East region has been discriminated against for a while and expects President Tinubu to rewrite the wrongs.
He said: ” The presence of five states in the South-East is a form of injustice when compared to the six states in other geopolitical zones and seven states in the North-West.
“The South East zone has been a victim of inequality, resulting in several agitations.
“I have said that Nigeria must be restructured to correct what i described as the imbalances and make every state equal in the country, stressing that, that was why the 2014 National Conference recommended the creation of more states, where the Southeast was given four additional states and three for all other zones except the North-West, which was allotted two because it already has seven states; and if implemented, it would have made the six geopolitical zones of the country to be at par with nine states and it would have provided for each citizen a stable and united Nigeria, where all its citizens have equal right. It was regarded as one of the most important recommendations of the conference because it affected every zone of the federation.
“As I said earlier, the Nigeria I knew had four (4) regions. The four (4) regions had equal powers and authority, irrespective of size or population; all reporting to the Federal Government which carried the 4 legs.
“The First and Second Republic but today, you have appointed 10 Yoruba’s as Ministers from the South-West and only five (5) Ministers from the South-East and you even failed to give them the ministerial appointment due to their region that would have made it six (6) Ministers.
”There is no justification for this grave omission and no effort has been made to correct it.
“Now that the elections are over, we must face the restructuring of this country. I repeat again, the immediate restructuring of Nigeria must be carried out if this country is to remain one, and I appeal to Mr President to take immediate action to implement the historic 2014 National Conference Report which submitted 600 recommendations to the Presidency on how to restructure Nigeria in every aspect of our lives.”
He said, General Yakubu Gowon was able to pull the country through the rubbles of the Civil war with the ‘No winner, No vanquish” mantra.
He, however regretted that winners take all philosophy has become the order of the day.
He said: “Unfortunately today, we have an attitude of winner takes all; some people now feel that they own the Country, that they are born to rule; that, except they rule, the Country will burn. This is wrong, unfair, unjust, inequitable and unacceptable to the rest of Nigerians. I repeat, all citizens of Nigeria, whether they are Ijaw, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa or Fulani are all citizens of Nigeria with equal status.
“The Motto of Nigeria is “Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress”. Where is the Unity I ask, where is the Faith in our beloved Country; where is the Peace; and are we really progressing? Let us not deceive ourselves. I am a strong advocate and believer in the Motor of our dear Country that is why my doors are open to all, but are we really working towards the attainment of this Motto? You cannot marginalize and oppress a people, and expect them not to speak out.
“I am 97 and when I reflect on the Nigeria I knew against the current goings-on, I worry for our young people of today and tomorrow. What hopes do they have in Nigeria’s future and what is their future in today’s Nigeria? I am talking of the 14, 15, 16 and 17 year olds, in the thirty-six (36) states and the Federal Capital Territory.”
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