Clark, a former Federal Commissioner for Information under the Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon military government, lamented that it is time the Federal Government begin to redress the deprivation, neglect and marginalisation that the Ijaws have been subjected by the Nigerian State.
This, Clark said when Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State led a high-powered delegation of Bayelsa Government officials and Ijaw leaders in a courtesy visit to the country home of Clark, Kiagbodo, Delta State.
Contained in a statement issued and signed by Mr Fidelis Soriowei, Special Adviser on Media Relations to Governor Dickson, Clark prayed for the Federal Government to turn a new leaf and imbibe the right attitude to address the Ijaw factor in the Nigerian Federation in 2018.
“The Federal Government should have a re-think and understand that the Ijaw people have been neglected for too long. Something has to be done for them; we want actual appreciation, something has to be done for us.”
The Ijaw National Leader averred that the Ijaw nation would not relent in its agitation over unresolved issues militating against the accelerated development of Ijaw people until justice, fairness and equity is served.
The resources found in the backyard of the Ijaw nation has been the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, therefore the federal government must listen to us, stressing that misgiving were the root cause of avoidable crisis.
Clark urged the federal government to do the needful, adding that crisis situation in the past has dealt serious blow on the nation’s economy, and such government should show sincerity by taking pragmatic steps to proffer lasting solution to the issues.
On the infrastructural changes in Bayelsa, the foremost Ijaw leader expressed delight that the Dickson led government has gone far with the construction of the 40 year-old Sagbama Ekeremor Road to open up the riverine communities.
‘’I am confident that sequel to promise made; the governor would take the critical road which had got to Aleibiri in December 2017 to Ekeremor in December 2018.
He also lauded the achievements in the education sector with the introduction of free quality primary and secondary schools, the establishment of boarding secondary schools like the Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama, and several others.
Clark, who urged the governor not to relent in his bid to develop Bayelsa, saying “You are our voice, when you speak, we are very proud of you. God will continue to guide you. Those who want to cause trouble will be taken care of by God.
“In 2012 at his inaugural speech, he was declaring an emergency in education, built the Ijaw National Academy, Invited me, Gowon and his wife and what we saw was encouraging and laudable.
“Gowon told me at the airport that he had not seen such any school like that. The students are intelligent and am proud of them.
Clark also averred that Dickson is not a state bigot, as he opened the academy to all students’ from Ijaw communities with the head girl coming from Arogbo in Ondo State.
In remark, Governor Dickson said that the visit was also partly motivated by the need to consult the Ijaw leaders on issues of urgent importance to the Ijaw Nation.
He called for greater unity in all the segments of the Ijaw movements especially the Ijaw Youth Council.
“We will consult on other issues of urgent important both at the level of Ijaw Nation, and the larger Nigerian Nation. Our leader is there to encourage us, to support us.
“And so I want to make a public call for unity at all level, I call for unity in the IYC. I want to see greater unity, greater display of dedication at all level in the course of service to our people. I call for support as we move together to reposition the Ijaw Nation as we move forward.
“I call for peaceful coexistence in all the states where we have the Ijaw nation. We also call for justice, fairness and equity.”
He promised to work hard to expand the frontiers of stability and development of the state.
Present at the event were Prof Emeritus and prominent writer and author JP Clark, the Bolowei òf Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Wellington Okrika, who was the Pioneer Chairman of the Delta State Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission, and the President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Mr Pereotubo Oweilaemi.
Others are Hon Fred Agbedi and Douye Diri members Federal House of Representatives from Bayelsa, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt Hon Konbowei Benson and members, as well as traditional rulers.
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