Elder Statesman and the National Leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, has weighed in in the issue of marginalisation of Southeast,l Region, describing it as the most disadvantaged geopolitical zone in the country.
He blamed the ongoing agitations and dissatisfactions in various zones in the country on inequality and unfair leadership actions and policies.
Clark, who spoke on Friday at the South-South Zonal Conference with the theme, ‘Restructuring: Imperatives for Sustainable development, unity and security’ in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, cited example with number of states in the Southeast as against other zones.
The conference was put together by the Agape Birthrights, founded by the Ankio Brigs, in partnership with Savanna Centre.His address read by Chief Obiuwevbi Ominimini and National Chairman, Oil Producing Areas Association of Nigeria.
According to Ijaw leader, “South-East geopolitical zone has five States, while other zones, the South-South, the South-West, the North-Central, the North-East, have six States each. In fact, the North West has seven States, what injustice against a people.
“Look at the northernisation policy going on in the country. Appointments are skewed in favour of the north, in total disregard to the feelings of other areas. Key positions in the Ministries, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Customs, Police, you name it, are all given to northerners.
“There are 17 security arms, 14 of them are headed by northerners. Yet one expects that there shall be national unity. Of course, it will not be possible. There must be dissatisfaction and agitation.
“For instance, look at what is happening in the South-East today. Our critical national assets are being attacked almost every day. People are killed, maimed. While one is gravely against such a method of expressing grievance, the people are pushed to the wall.
“The South-East geopolitical zone could rightly be described as the most disadvantaged. One could not understand why the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) will be declared as a terrorist organization, while similar organisations in the North have not been so declared.”
For Clark, unity is a scarce commodity in Nigeria because of such palpable imbalance and unfairness.
No nation according to him could survive with such a situation.
Clark said, “Unity in this country today is unfortunately a scarce commodity despite the fact that unity is one of the four cardinal points contained in our country’s Motto, which is Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress.
“Our nation has never been so disunited, as we are today. There is so much distrust. We suspect one another’s next move. No nation can survive with such a level of distrust. And the major cause of disunity in the country today, is inequality.
“You do not expect me to live in unity with someone who is oppressing me, and treating me as though I am a second-class citizen in my own country. This is unacceptable. ”
