Chief Edwin Clark, the acclaimed leader of the South South, has fired an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing his administration of maginalising people of his region.
In the letter, dated 12 June 2020, Clark told Buhari without mincing words: that his people have not been treated fairly ” despite our contribution to the economy of the country”.
The letter is entitled: Let us call a spade, a spade!
“The message herein, is a message of truth; encapsulating my thoughts, as well as, the feelings, dissensions, and remonstrations, of the people of the South South Geopolitical Zone, that I have been continuously inundated with.
“I have to state it, unequivocally, the way it is, for the sake of posterity, and in the interest of peace, unity, and progress of our dear country, Nigeria.
“For reasons unknown to me, we have continued to witness discriminative, and unjust actions, against people of South South extraction, under presidency, in the last five years.
“Why is it that people, particularly from the South South Zone, are being treated as if they are not Nigerians, as if they are foreigners, or as if they are second class Citizens, in their own country?
“Situations, whereby, people due confirmation for their positions, are being removed, and replaced with people from particular parts of the country, is not right.
“And the situations are getting too many. We are all Nigerians; we are entitled to be appointed to any position. If our people are not qualified, it is a different matter.
“Discrimination is a danger to any society, particularly, a plural society like ours.”
Below is the full text of Chief Clark’s letter:
Let me, begin by, expressing earnest gratitude and appreciation to Mr. President, for congratulating me, both on my 92nd and 93rd Birthday anniversaries. I deeply cherish the thoughtful gesture, and the kind remarks. As Mr. President, rightly stated in the two congratulatory messages, I have rendered over 70 years of my life to the service of this country, starting from the age of 19. And it pleased the Almighty God to keep me up to this age, and in sound health. Accordingly, as long as, I live, I will continue to work for the good of this country, in any way, I find it possible.
It is in that light, and in view of recent worrisome developments, that I am writing this letter to Mr. President on Democracy Day. The message herein, is a message of truth; encapsulating my thoughts, as well as, the feelings, dissensions, and remonstrations, of the people of the South South Geopolitical Zone, that I have been continuously inundated with.
I have to state it, unequivocally, the way it is, for the sake of posterity, and in the interest of peace, unity, and progress of our dear country, Nigeria.
And the truth, Mr. President, is that the South South Geopolitical Zone has not been treated fairly, by your administration, despite our contribution to the economy of the country. Let us call a spade, a spade!
For reasons unknown to me, we have continued to witness discriminative, and unjust actions, against people of South South Extraction, under presidency, in the last five years.
Why is it that people, particularly from the South South Zone, are being treated as if they are not Nigerians, as if they are foreigners, or as if they are second class Citizens, in their own country?
Situations, whereby, people due confirmation for their positions, are being removed, and replaced with people from particular parts of the country, is not right.
And the situations are getting too many. We are all Nigerians; we are entitled to be appointed to any position. If our people are not qualified, it is a different matter.