From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Edwin Clark, has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately implement the 2014 National Conference Report to reunite the Igbos and bring them back to the position they occupied before the civil war.
He said this when a 10-man delegation of Igbo leaders paid a courtesy visit to him at his residence to congratulate him on 97th birthday, which occurred on May 25 earlier that year.
The delegation was led by a former chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Simon Okeke.
His call followed a recent call by The Patriots, led by Emeka Anyaoku, to Tinubu urging him to convene a constituent assembly to draft a “people’s democratic pluralistic constitution” for Nigeria.
Clark emphasised that Nigeria is a big family, and leaders, particularly presidents, should avoid the temptation of making appointments based on ethnicity, as such acts portend a dangerous trend for the country.
The elder statesman also emphasised the demise of late President-General of the Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo, Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, was not just to the Igbos but to the people of the Southern and Middle Belt, as well as all Nigerians.
He prayed that God would grant the bereaved family, Ohaneze, and everyone the fortitude to bear the loss.
Clark who expressed surprise and delight at the visit, while extending his sincere condolences to the Igbo leaders on the demise, stated that he only does what he does because he believes all human beings are born equal.
Clark advised that people appointed into offices should stop mystifying those who appointed them, as if they were gods.
He said that while courtesy demands appreciation for good deeds, doing so with a slave-like mentality amounts to adulation.
Clark reminded the Igbo leaders to hold their heads high, as they have always held positions of importance in the country.
He recalled the activities of past Igbo leaders like Jaja Wachuku, who was a Pan-Africanist and Nigeria’s first respected Minister of Foreign Affairs.
According to him, 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 an over kill.
He urged Igbos appointed to positions, especially at the national level, to see themselves as qualified to hold such positions and not be subservient, as other Nigerians are qualified as well.
Earlier, Okeke, on behalf of the delegation, expressed their appreciation for Clark’s selfless leadership in piloting the affairs of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), an umbrella body representing the Middlebelt, South-East, South-South, and South-West regions.
The delegation said the Igbos are particularly grateful to Clark for always speaking out for them, against the perceived discriminations and injustices perpetrated against them in the country.
They prayed God to continue to keep the elder statesman in sound health and mind, as he continues to speak out against discrimination, marginalization and oppression.
Former ambassador to the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland under President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2007, Godknows Igali, who joined Chief Clark to receive the delegation, thanked them for the visit.
He recounted the ingenuity of the Igbo man, who has the resilience to weather any storm. He recalled the activities of one of the members of the delegation whom he met when he served as Nigerian Consul General to Cameroon, how he was able to mobilize Nigerians in the Cameroon.
He enjoined them to keep up the spirit.