Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-cultural organization representing the interests of the Igbo people, has responded with unyielding fury to Chief Edwin Clark’s recent vituperative rhetoric call for the expulsion of Abia, Imo, and Ondo States from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Ohanaeze maintained that Chief Clark’s exclusionary stance and parochial suggestions are nothing short of parochial barbarism, satanic, and detrimental to national cohesion and unity.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo vehemently condemned Chief Clark’s promotion of ethnic bigotry, which the group said has no place in Nigeria’s diverse and multicultural society.
In response to the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, stated unequivocally that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, should overlook and sweep Edwin Clark’s unhealthy vituperation into the dustbin of history.
Rather than engaging in divisive rhetoric and exclusionary tactics, Ohanaeze said it expected Chief Edwin Clark to advocate for the gazetting of former President Buhari’s recognition of the Old Anambra River Basins as oil-producing states. This recognition includes Anambra, Enugu, and Kogi States, which should be incorporated into the NDDC. “By ignoring this crucial aspect, Chief Clark has displayed a blatant disregard for fairness and equity.
“Furthermore, considering the economic hardships caused by the removal of fuel subsidies, Ohanaeze Ndigbo strongly condemns Chief Clark’s views. We find his comments deeply disappointing and unacceptable, as they do not reflect the position of the Niger Delta region as a whole. Ethnic bigotry has no place in our nation’s discourse, and leaders like Chief Clark must work towards fostering unity and inclusivity rather than sowing seeds of division”.
“We call on President Tinubu to uphold the principles of fairness and equality by incorporating the Old Anambra River Basins into the NDDC. This step would not only rectify the historical injustices suffered by the Igbo people but also promote national integration, development, and unity.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo remains committed to the pursuit of a united and prosperous Nigeria, where every ethnic group is accorded equal rights and opportunities. We will continue to advocate for the fair treatment of all regions and work towards a future characterized by harmony, understanding, and shared prosperity” the group averred.