The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has strongly criticised the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Chief Edwin Clark, over his recent call for the exclusion of Abia, Imo, and Ondo states from the Niger Delta Development Commission.
The group said the elder statesman’s “vituperative rhetoric” and “exclusionary” stance are an affront to national cohesion, unity, and a promotion of ethnic bigotry.
Its Secretary-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, made this known in a press statement he issued on Wednesday, calling on President Bola Tinubu to disregard Clark’s “unhealthy vituperation” and sweep it into the dustbin of history where it belongs.
He said, “Chief Clark’s proposal to expel Abia, Imo, and Ondo states from the NDDC based on their geographical location and quantity of oil deposits is not only misguided but also reeks of parochialism.
“Such exclusionary suggestions are detrimental to the progress and unity of our great nation. We call on President Bola Tinubu to disregard Clark’s unhealthy vituperation and sweep it into the dustbin of history where it belongs.
“It is disheartening that Chief Clark, a prominent leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, would resort to such parochial barbarism and satanic rhetoric. Instead of promoting unity and inclusivity, he chooses to foster division and animosity among Nigerians.
“His views do not reflect the position of the Niger Delta region or the values of a united Nigeria.”
Also, Ondo State disagreed with Clark. The Commissioner representing Ondo on the board of the NDDC, Mr Otito Atikase, said Clark’s proposition was unfair.
Atikase said, “We would not want to take issue with Chief Edwin Clark because he is an old man, and old age may be the cause of what he said if he truly said it because I have not read the story in the newspaper that published his statement.
“It takes two-thirds of the House of Representatives to remove Ondo State from the NDDC. What they would be saying is that Ondo State is not part of the Niger Delta. The motive for creating the NDDC is for the development of the environments where oil is being explored and exploited.
“Are they saying we don’t have oil in our state when our environment is devastated already? The NDDC is an intervention agency, created to take care of the areas which have been devastated as a result of the exploration and exploitation of oil. So, it is inappropriate and unfair to say Ondo should be removed from the NDDC.”
