The leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, has publicly accused President Bola Tinubu of governing the country based on personal sentiments rather than objective policies.
In his remarks, Clark expressed concern that such an approach could undermine national unity and exacerbate existing divisions within the country.
He emphasized the need for a leadership style that prioritizes inclusivity and fairness, urging the president to adopt a more balanced perspective in his decision-making processes.
Clark drew a comparison between President Bola Tinubu and his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, suggesting that Tinubu exhibits a similar tendency toward ethnic sentiment in his governance.
He remarked that just as Buhari’s administration was often criticized for favoring specific ethnic groups, Tinubu appears to be following a similar path, which he described as a “huge dose of ethnic sentiment.”
The elder statesman also lambasted FG for scrapping of the Ministry of the Niger Delta Affairs, stating that the development did not come to him as a surprise, but insisted that the people of the Niger Delta have nothing to lose.
Clark spoke via telephone during the Special General Assembly of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, which had the theme, “Fostering Peace and Unity for Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta Region.” The event took place in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
The leader said in spite of public outcries over the palpable inequalities and marginalizations in the country that the nation is still divided along religions and ethnic lines leaving the lesser groups in lack.
He said: ,“Nigeria is divided across the lines of ethnicity, along the lines of religion, hunger and everything that you can think of. Today Nigeria no longer has a middle class. The wealthy have carried away the wealth.
“They seize our oil wells. So we are nowhere. Can you imagine a man like me, two, three years ago, if I want anything from the oil companies, from the oil industry I have to travel to Daura (hometown of former President Muhammadu Buhari) to meet with Mr President who will then grant me.
“What type of country do we belong to? A country where we have no respect for one another. They think it is right. And this is still continuing. “
He lamented the challenges bedeviling the country such as insecurity and food crisis, noting Boko Haram was sponsored to bring down the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“Along the line I mentioned, herdsmen and Boko Haram came in. Some of them confessed that Boko Haram came, they brought it to threaten the government of Goodluck Jonathan. Luckily enough Jonathan was able to drive them away. He sent them away before he left office.
“There are many problems to face in Nigeria. Imagine producing fish but no more fish to eat. Imagine producing meat but no more good food to eat and all that.”
However, the Federal Government has said the Ministry of the Niger Delta Affairs was expanded and not scrapped as reported in some sections of the media.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri at the event said the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry was rather expanded to coordinate all regional development agencies, including the North-East and South-West Development Commission with a son of the Niger Delta still in charge.
Lokpobiri said: “It is very important to use this opportunity to explain that I was at the federal executive council when that decision was taken as to you know the issue of Niger Delta Ministry.
“The Ministry was not scrapped at all. It was rather expanded to coordinate all regional development agencies. Apart from the NDDC there is nothing stopping the South-South Region from getting the South-South Development Commission.
“And I think something like that has already gotten to an advanced stage. So the Ministry for Regional Development will co-ordinate not just the NDDC it will also co-ordinate if there is any South-South Development Commission, it will coordinate that. It will coordinate North-East, it will coordinate South-East, it will coordinate all regional development under the leadership of your own son.
“Your own son is still the leader. We must understand that point, I want to use this medium to explain to you that we have nothing to lose at all. We are in fact losing nothing. Rather we may gain more if we have the South-South Regional Development Commission.”
