Clark to Tinubu: Implement 2014 Confab report now

Elder statesman and former Federal Commissioner for Information Leader, Chief Edwin Clark has tasked President Bola Tinubu to implement the resolutions of the 2014 Conference urgently.

The conference was put together by Goodluck Jonathan administration to address pressing national contentions.

The call by the South-South leader is coming against the backdrop of the suggestion by The Patriots, a group of elder statesmen led Chief Emeka Anyaoku, for the president to convene another national conference to draft a new constitution.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja when he received a 10-man delegation of Igbo leadership led by former chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Chief Simon Okeke, who visited him at his Asokoro residence, Abuja on Thursday, he said that implementing the report of the Conference will help to unite the country.

He urged the president to avoid the temptation of making appointments on ethnic basis as such an act portends a very dangerous trend for the country.

Chief Clark, who is also the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), said “If President Bola Tinubu immediately implements the 2014 National Conference Report, it will help to re-unite the Igbos, bringing them to the position they occupied before the civil war.”

He urged the Igbos to put their acts together in order to achieve their desire, saying, “while courtesy demands that people appreciate when things are done for them, doing so with a slave-like mentality, is tantamount to adulation.”

Noting that Igbos had always held their heads high in positions of reckoning in the country, he recalled the activities of past Igbo leaders like Jaja Wachuku who was a Pan-Africanist and most respected first Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Clark stated “therefore, for an Igbo man to genuflect and say the Igbos should jump to the skies because one of them is appointed a ‘super’ Minister today, is to him an overpraise. Igbos who find themselves appointed to positions, especially at the national level, should see themselves as qualified to hold such positions, and not to be subservient. Because if other Nigerians are qualified, the Igbos are qualified too.”

Clark who expressed delight at the “surprise” visit, also expressed his sincere condolences on the demise of Chief Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, who until his death, was the President-General of the Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo.

He said that the loss was not just to the Igbos, but to the people of the Southern and Middle Belt, and indeed to Nigerians.

He prayed that God will give the bereaved family, the people of Ohaneze and indeed everyone, the fortitude to bear the loss.

Clark also expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the delegation for finding time to come and celebrate his 97th birthday, which was held about two months ago.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation of Igbo leadership, Chief Okeke hailed Clark for always speaking out against the perceived discrimination against Igbos and injustices perpetrated against them in the country.

He noted that the prayer of the Igbos is that God should continue to provide him with good and sound health for Clark to continue speaking out against discrimination, marginalization and oppression.

Okeke, who noted that the visit was to felicitate with the elder statesman on his 97th birthday.

According to the leader of the delegation the visit was also to show appreciation for the selfless leadership qualities Chief Clark has shown in piloting the affairs of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), an umbrella body made up of the people of the Middlebelt, South-East, South-South and the South-West.

Chief Clark is also the leader of the group.

Okeke said: ”The Igbos are particularly grateful to Chief Clark for always speaking out for them, against the perceived discriminations and injustices perpetrated against them in the country. We pray to God to continue keeping Chief Clark in sound health and mind, as he continues to speak out against discrimination, marginalization and oppression.”

Other members of the delegation included Prof. Ihechukwu Madubuike, former Minister of Education and Health; Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, two times Minister of Finance, Minister of National Planning and Minister of Transportation; Tagbo Okeke; Elder Ken Enechebe; Amb. Orjiako Humphrey; Dame Dr Gladys Nne Nwafor; Prof Charles E.; Rt. Hon Chief Chika Okafor and Amb. Dr. Sir Paddy Njoku.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE