Nigeria will not break up under Jonathan- Clark

Elder statesman and Ijaw Leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark
was the guest lecturer at the 7th Distinguished Lecture Series of
School of Media and Communication, Pan Atlantic University,
Victoria Island, Lagos, last Wednesday. He spoke on burning
national issues including the raging Boko Haram insurgency, war
against graft and comments that Nigeria may disintegrate before 2015
among others.
Chronicling the history of Nigeria dating back to the 1914
amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates, Clark said
that propositions that the nation will disintegrate should be totally
disregarded, as what is playing out in the country today is only a
tussle for political power.
He said: “We have been together for the past 100 years. It was in
1914 that Lord Lugard amalgamated the Northern and the Southern
protectorates. Don’t ask me why the amalgamation because I do not
want to dwell on that. But firstly, it is apt to note that there was a
true federation particularly in 1961.
Among Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the
Sarduana of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, there was a federation and
these premiers agreed that there was going to be a federation where
everybody will be equal. We are going to have a federation where
every component and region will be allowed to develop at its own
pace. Then, these three leaders were able to develop their own region.
“It was in 1956 that the late Chief Anthony Enahoro moved a motion
in the Parliament that there should be independence, but the
Northerners said no, that we were not ready. So, when they came
out of the Parliament, they were booed and jeered at. And the
northerners vowed never to come to Lagos again. Then, this was
followed up by the independence in 1960, Nigeria did not break.
Even in 1966, five majors in the Army decided to plot a coup that saw
many people killed, including Tafawa Balewa, the Sarduana of
Sokoto, Chief Akintola, Chief Okotie-Eboh and some soldiers. All
these played out and Gen. Yakubu Gowon came into power but
Nigeria did not break…
“Even in 1967, there was a civil war which claimed so many lives
because the Igbo felt they were marginalized and therefore they fought
for a cause. Under Odumegwu Ojukwu, they seceded from Nigeria,
but Gowon insisted that Nigeria must remain one. After the war that
ensued, Nigeria became more stronger and united, the Igbo were re-
integrated into the country because Gowon declared that there was no
victor, no vanquished. Since then, so many things have happened, but
Nigeria did not break.
“When in 1914 Lord Lugard amalgamated the Northern and Southern
protectorates, he did not say one would be superior to the other; he did
not say one would rule Nigeria forever.
Massive support
The Northerners have ruled this country for 38 years, military and
civilian, whereas others have ruled for just 16 years. The Igbo have
just ruled for 6 months, but heaven did not fall. Now that the South-
South who has not been there before is now there, heaven wants to
fall.”
He recalled the 1979 election, saying the South-South massively
supported Alhaji Shehu Shagari, a northerner and NPN candidate,
and has always supported the North and other regions for the
Presidency noting that there was no reason the South-South, a
minority, will not be supported to complete its tenure of eight years in
the presidency.
Jonathan has right to re-contest elections: Speaking further, Clark
said that Section 137 of the 1999 constitution allows the President to
go for two terms of four years each. “So, it is an aberration for
anybody to say that Jonathan does not have the right to re-contest in
2015 presidential elections. Section 137 guarantees the President the
right to go for two terms of four years.
President Jonathan was only a running mate to the late President
Musa Ya’Adua in the 2007 elections. He only contested as President
in 2011, therefore, it is a mix-up to say that Jonathan’s tenure started
in 2007.”
Obnoxious statements: Describing statements credited to General
Muhamadu Buhari, Adamu Ciroma and Asari Dokubo that there
will be war if Jonathan wins or does not win the 2015 elections,
Clark said they are not enough to break the country.
His words: “So, when you are talking about Nigeria in the shadow
of 2015, I am very optimistic that nothing will happen to our dear
country. I don’t see Nigeria breaking in 2015. People are just saying
this because two American scholars who conducted a research some
years back, postulated that Nigeria is in a balance or that Nigeria
will break. They based their postulation on jostling for political power
and the small arms being imported into this country.
Now certain obnoxious statements have been made by the likes of
Buhari, Geidam, Alhaji Suleiman, Adamu Ciroma, Asari Dokubo
and others that there will be war, bloodshed, that there will be no
Nigeria, if Jonathan wins or does not win the 2015 elections. These
statements which support the assertion by the American scholars is not
enough to break Nigeria.
Let it also be known that I, E.K. Clark openly responded to the
National Assembly, especially the Hon. Aminu Tambuwal-led House
of Representatives not to play double standards. When the House
ordered the Inspector General of Police to arrest and investigate
Asari Dokubo, who was only reacting to the statements of some
northern elements who are threatening to make the country
ungovernable if Jonathan wins the 2015 election, it was my open letter
that made the matter die down till date.”
On Corruption: “Jonathan has done a lot in fighting corruption in this
country. Looking at the issue of fuel subsidy, even the son of the former
Chairman of his party was prosecuted. But however, I suggest that
with the political will he has to fight corruption, that a Corruption
tribunal should be set up, to charge criminals who steal our public
funds, no matter how highly placed they are. This is being done in
other countries.
It pains me that most corrupt Nigerians still work freely in the
streets. Rather than keeping shut, they go about accusing the present
administration of corruption. Take for instance, the suspended CBN
governor, who has been playing a holy than thou attitude, it has just
been made known that he was involved in financial recklessness at the
CBN. Sanusi should not be allowed to go scot free. He should be
made to go to jail, if found wanting after ongoing investigations.
Boko-Haram challenge: Reacting to Tuesday’s killing of students of
Federal Government Girls College in Yobe State, by the deadly
Islamist sect, Boko Haram, Clark affirmed that all hands needed to
be on deck in combating the insurgency which has claimed many lives
and properties. He however blamed the insurgency to statements
credited to some northerners that Nigeria will be ungovernable if
Jonathan wins the 2011 Presidential elections.
“I think the federal government has been making frantic efforts to
contain this insurgency. Government recently created a new army
division to support the armed forces that are there already. These
insurgents are terrorists, because they have already been brain-
washed that when they kill, Allah (God Almighty) will reward them
after death in heaven, with seven virgins which is all fallacy. One
major challenge is the issue of genocide. Because when the Jonathan
administration uses full force like Obasanjo did, so many innocent
Nigerians will be killed.”

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