Elder statesman Edwin Clark has written to President Bola Tinubu, pressing for the implementation of the 2014 National Conference report and calling for immediate restructuring of Nigeria to ensure national unity. In his letter dated June 13 and made available to journalists, Clark stressed the urgency of these actions following the conclusion of the elections.
“Now that the elections are over, we must address the restructuring of this country,” stated Clark, leader of the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders’ Forum. He emphasized that restructuring is crucial for the nation’s cohesion and urged President Tinubu to act swiftly on the 2014 National Conference Report, which contains 600 recommendations for comprehensive national restructuring.
Clark also addressed the situation of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who has been in custody since 2021. He urged Tinubu to seek a political resolution for Kanu, similar to how the Federal Government withdrew terrorism charges against Bello Bodejo, the detained President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
In his letter, Clark criticized former President Muhammadu Buhari for marginalizing the Igbos from the South-East in his appointments, claiming this pattern has continued under Tinubu’s administration. He highlighted the disparity in ministerial appointments, noting that while Tinubu appointed 10 ministers from the South-West, only six were from the South-East.
“President Buhari did everything to subjugate the Igbos for reasons best known to him,” Clark wrote, citing the exclusion of South-East representatives from the NNPC board despite the region’s oil production. He argued that the discrimination persists, pointing out the unequal ministerial appointments under Tinubu’s government.
Clark concluded by urging President Tinubu to rectify this imbalance and address the ongoing injustices against the Igbos to promote fairness and national unity.
