Chief Edwin Clark, a prominent leader of the Ijaw Nation, has urged President Bola Tinubu to avoid the path of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, whom he accused of subjugating the Igbo people.
In a letter made available to the press on Thursday, Clark criticized Buhari for excluding the South-East from major appointments and unfairly allocating funds during his administration.
Clark expressed concern that Tinubu might be exhibiting similar tendencies and called on him to change course.
He wrote, “President Buhari did everything to subjugate the Igbo for reasons best known to him. For example, the NNPC board he constituted had no members from the South-East, despite three South-East states being oil producers. Additionally, loans obtained under Buhari’s administration allocated less than 1% to the South-East for infrastructural projects.”
Clark highlighted the imbalance in Buhari’s appointments, noting that in his 17-man security chiefs, 14 were from the North and only three from the South, excluding the South-East entirely.
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He pointed out that the discrimination and injustice against the Igbo continue under Tinubu’s government, citing the appointment of ten ministers from the South-West and only five from the South-East.
Clark called for immediate restructuring of the country and the implementation of the 2014 National Conference Report, which includes 600 recommendations on how to restructure Nigeria.
He emphasized, “The immediate restructuring of Nigeria must be carried out if this country is to remain one. I appeal to Mr. President to take immediate action to implement the historic 2014 National Conference Report.”
He concluded by urging the Igbo people to stand up and assert their rights in a legitimate, judicious, and democratic manner, to ensure they benefit equally as Nigerians, as was the case before the civil war of 1967.
