In the letter, dated 12 June 2020, Clark told Buhari without mincing words: that his people have not been treated fairly” despite our contribution to the economy of the country”.
The letter is entitled: Let us call a spade, a spade!
Chief Edwin
Clark, the acclaimed leader of the South South, has fired an open letter to
President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing his administration of marginalising people
of his region.
“The message
herein, is a message of truth; encapsulating my thoughts, as well as, the
feelings and dissensions of the people of the South South
Geopolitical Zone, that I have been continuously inundated with.
“I have to
state it, unequivocally, the way it is, for the sake of posterity, and in the
interest of peace, unity, and progress of our dear country, Nigeria.
“For reasons
unknown to me, we have continued to witness discriminative and unjust actions,
against people of South South extraction, under presidency, in the last five
years.
“Why is it
that people, particularly from the South South Zone, are being treated as if
they are not Nigerians, as if they are foreigners, or as if they are second
class Citizens, in their own country?
“Situations,
whereby, people due confirmation for their positions, are being removed, and
replaced with people from particular parts of the country, is not right.
“And the
situations are getting too many. We are all Nigerians; we are entitled to be
appointed to any position. If our people are not qualified, it is a different
matter.
“Discrimination
is a danger to any society, particularly, a plural society like ours.”
Below is the
full text of Chief Clark’s letter:
Let me, begin
by, expressing earnest gratitude and appreciation to Mr. President, for congratulating
me, both on my 92nd and 93rd Birthday anniversaries. I deeply cherish the
thoughtful gesture, and the kind remarks. As Mr. President, rightly stated in
the two congratulatory messages, I have rendered over 70 years of my life to
the service of this country, starting from the age of 19. And it pleased the
Almighty God to keep me up to this age, and in sound health. Accordingly, as
long as, I live, I will continue to work for the good of this country, in any
way, I find it possible.
It is in that
light, and in view of recent worrisome developments, that I am writing this
letter to Mr. President on Democracy Day. The message herein, is a message of
truth; encapsulating my thoughts, as well as, the feelings, dissensions, and
remonstrations, of the people of the South South Geopolitical Zone, that I have
been continuously inundated with.
I have to
state it, unequivocally, the way it is, for the sake of posterity, and in the
interest of peace, unity, and progress of our dear country, Nigeria.
And the truth,
Mr. President, is that the South South Geopolitical Zone has not been treated
fairly, by your administration, despite our contribution to the economy of the
country. Let us call a spade, a spade!
For reasons
unknown to me, we have continued to witness discriminative and unjust actions,
against people of South Extraction, under presidency, in the last five years.
Why is it
that people, particularly from the South South Zone, are being treated as if
they are not Nigerians, as if they are foreigners, or as if they are second
class Citizens, in their own country?
Situations,
whereby, people due confirmation for their positions, are being removed, and
replaced with people from particular parts of the country, is not right.
And the
situations are getting too many. We are all Nigerians; we are entitled to be
appointed to any position. If our people are not qualified, it is a different
matter.
Discrimination
is a danger to any society, particularly, a plural society like ours.
The recent
events in the United States of America, over the ill-treatment meted to
Afro-Americans; and the “Black Lives Matter” demonstrations across America, and
around the world, should be a lesson to Nigeria; no nation is an island to
itself.
Mr.
President, about two weeks ago, Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (Rtd), former
Military Governor of Kaduna State, wrote a similar letter to you. The
gentleman, pertinently and rightly, drew your attention to the imbalances in
your appointments, and warned of the dire consequences, to the nation when he
said “I regret that there are no kind or gentle words to tell you that your
skewed appointments into the office of the Federal Government, favouring some
and frustrating others, shall bring ruin and destruction to the nation”.
Colonel
Umar’s perspective is very correct. But, instead of giving conscientious
considerations to the issues raised by the retired Colonel, what we saw, were
unguarded utterances against him, by some of your aides, and partisan loyalists.
That was very sad and unfortunate.
Today, it
seems, the only qualifications for appointment in the federal civil service or
public service, under your administration, are religion or ethnicity.
Let me
highlight, a few of the recent puzzling, and embarrassing, actions of Mr.
President, which many have termed, targeted exclusion of the South South from
TOP MANAGEMENT POSITIONS in critical sectors of the nation’s Public and Civil
Service.
*Replacement
of Acting Director General of Security and Exchange Commission, SEC*
Mrs. Mary
Uduk, acted as Director-General of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC),
for over two years, but Mr. President did not deem it fit to confirm her as
substantive Director General of SEC. It will be recalled that this lady, from
Akwa Ibom State, was appointed as acting Director General of the Security and
Exchange Commission, by the former Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun,
following staff reshuffling in the agency, in March 2018.
In view of
her track record of service, many in the sector had expected that she would be
confirmed as substantive Director General of the apex stock regulatory body.
But, Mr President, thought otherwise, and instead, replaced her with Lamido
Yuguda, a retired staff of Central Bank of Nigeria, somebody from the North,
who was a Commissioner working under her in the Commission.
This is a
very glaring instance, of the discrimination and unfair treatment against the
people of the South South, we have been talking about.
This woman
has been part of the system; she has been at SEC for over thirty years. Why
should she be treated that way? Was she found wanting in the discharge of her
duties and responsibilities as Acting Director General?
*Registrar-General
of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)*
Again, is the
case of Mrs. Azuka Azinge. Mrs. Azinge who had worked at the CAC for about 10
years was appointed acting Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs
Commission (CAC) for about 2 years. Rather than confirming her appointment,
charges were brought against her before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT),
that she maintains a domiciliary account, and that she was paid salaries and
allowances which she was not entitled to, in an acting capacity, despite the
fact the payments were approved by the Board of the Commission.
In a manner
unknown to extant laws, the Code of Conduct Tribunal “ordered the Minister for
Trade & Industries to appoint a replacement for Mrs. Azinge”. In compliance
to this “order” a letter dated 7th January, 2020, issued by the Minister of
Trade & Industries, to Alhaji Garba Abubakar, from Bauchi State, who was a
principal Manager and former Special Adviser to the former Registrar-General,
appointing him the Registrar-General of the Commission. The whole essence of
the case was to ridicule Mrs Azinge, a South-Southerner from Delta State, and
get her out of office, for a Northerner to take over.
*Director-General
of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA*
Another
worrisome appointment by Mr President is that of the Director-General of the
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.
Dr Dakuku
Peterside from Rivers State was appointed DG of the Agency, in 2016, his term
expired this year, he was not re-appointed.
Unknown to,
and without the input of the Minister of Transportation, under whose charge the
Agency operates, Mr. President, appointed a Northerner, Bashir Jamoh, from
Kaduna State, who was an executive director at the Agency, to replace Dr.
Dakuku Peterside. Mr. Bashir Jamoh, is reportedly, a father-in-law to one of
your aides.
Meanwhile,
the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman, also
from Kaduna State, was reappointed for another four years. The two agencies,
NPA and NIMASA, are parastatals under the same Federal Ministry of
Transportation. Hadiza Bala Usman of NPA, from Kaduna State, was reappointed
for another four years, whereas, Dakuku Peterside from Rivers State, was not
re-appointed. Worst still replaced with a Northerner. What could be the logic
behind this?
Predictably,
just a few days ago, Mr. President, renewed the appointment of the Executive
Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Umar Garba Danbatta,
which was done expressly, without any hullabaloo. Apparently because he is from
the Northern part of the Country.
It is
consequential, Mr President, to further highlight that, we are yet to see a
situation where Northerners have been removed and replaced with Southerners,
like it was done in the case of NIMASA, and several other Agencies.
These
situations give credence to suggestions of a Northernizing agenda of the
Nation’s public service, by your administration; sacrificing merit, competency,
sector experience, and geographical spread, at the altar of nepotism.
*The Situation
in the Petroleum Industry*
Let me remind
Mr. President, of what played out at the Department of Petroleum Resources,
DPR, of the Ministry of Petroleum, last year. The man who was Director there,
Mordecai Baba Ladan, from the North, attained the retirement age of 60 years in
June, 2017, but he was retained till December, 2019. When he eventually left,
consistent with the tendencies of your administration, Sarki Auwalu, also from
the North, was appointed to that position. I was made to understand that, Mr
Auwalu, who was an Assistant Director, was appointed Director of the key
regulatory Department, ahead of eight Deputy Directors.
While, in the
same petroleum industry, Roland O. Ewubare, who is from the South South, was moved
from NAPIMS as Managing Director last year, another person from South South was
not appointed to replace him. Rather, a Northerner was used to replace him,
perhaps, because NAPIMS, like DPR, is said to be one of the strategic
subsidiaries of the NNPC.
Interestingly,
on the other hand, when Roland O. Ewubare, was earlier, moved from Integrated
Data Services Limited, he was replaced with someone from South South, in the
person of Diepriye Tariah. I understand, Mr Tariah, recently, disengaged from
the service, and another South South person has been appointed to replace him.
So it seems
to me, there are positions in NNPC, reserved for people from the South South,
and there are some other positions reserved for people from the Northern zone.
Why the discrimination, and seeming snobbery?
Space, and
time, will not allow me, to exhaust the appalling injustices against the South
South people, in the Oil and Gas industry alone.
Mr President
will recall that I have written several Letters, both open and otherwise, to
you on these issues.
While our
resources are being managed, and subjugated, mainly by people from other parts
of the country, the people of the oil producing communities of the Niger Delta,
who bear the brunt of degradation, arising from the oil and gas exploratory
activities, receive mere soupçons, and are rendered spectators of the oil
business.
Recently, the
House of Representatives passed a Motion that the unusual deaths of humans and
fishes in Bayelsa and Rivers States, possibly caused by oil pollution, should
be investigated. These situations cannot be allowed to continue.
*Former Head
of the Civil Service of the Federation*
Mr President
may wish to recall, the instance of the former Head of the Civil Service of the
Federation, Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, who happens to also come the South South,
from Cross River State. A woman, who after several years in the Civil Service
of the government of the federation, rose to become Permanent Secretary, and
served meritoriously, in two or three ministries before, Mr. President,
appointed her Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in October, 2015.
Mr President,
while we do not condone corruption, the way that woman was treated, leaves a
lot to be desired.
This lady
worked for four years, as Head of the Federal Civil Service, and she was loyal
and committed to the presidency. Throughout that period of time, nobody said
anything about her. Until, I understand, she had cause to disagree with the
late Chief of Staff in the presidency, Mr Abba Kyari. It was then, that they
realised she was corrupt.
When she
decided to resign on her own, Mr. President, said no; that she should remain in
office. Only to be later humiliated, and disgraced, and now being prosecuted on
all sorts of charges. Why? Because she comes from the South South, which is,
regarded as a disadvantaged Minority area, where its people can be exploited,
ridiculed and maltreated, by anybody. She had nobody to protect her; so, as
usual, they treated her in such a shabby manner. I repeat that, I am not
supporting corruption, if there is any malfeasance on her part, she should be
tried.
*The Case of
the former Chief Justice of Nigeria*
That brings
to mind, the way the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, he too from Cross River
State, was treated as well. I recall, how we appealed, when Mr. President
hesitated to confirm his appointment after his recommendation by the NJC. Until
the Acting President at the time forwarded the letter for his confirmation to
the Senate.
One had
expected his confirmation would have ended the hatred against the jurist but
for obvious political and other reasons, and perhaps, having regard to Mr
President’s re-election stratagem in 2019, this man was allowed to be harassed,
humiliated, dehumanized, and disgraced, by less qualified, and far junior
benchers, like the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, to the extent
that, the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, was undignified.
And Mr
President, unprecedentedly, without deference to the Constitutional provisions
on the appointment of Chief Justice of Nigeria, appointed an Acting Chief
Justice of Nigeria; a person who was later queried by the Nigerian Judiciary
Council (NJC).
And for no
known reasons, the NJC, made up of senior jurists, surprisingly, without making
any attempt to rectifying the situation, confirmed the unconstitutional
appointment made by Mr President.
As a Lawyer
of over 50 years standing, I was ashamed that the Nigerian Bar Association
(NBA) could not live up to expectation. I do not know what they are afraid of.
Mr President,
why is this being done to people who have faithfully served this nation, in
their various positions. What is going on?
*The 16-Point
Demand of the Niger Delta region*
The 16-Point
Demand of the Niger Delta region drawn up after our intervention as leaders of
the region with the Niger Delta Avengers, for which, I led a 100 – Member
Delegation including First Class Traditional Rulers of the region, and which
had in attendance Governors of the region, to Mr. President on the 1st of
November, 2016, is yet to be attended to.
The
Presidential Amnesty Program has now become everybody’s affair in Nigeria. These
situations are unacceptable.
The
construction of the East-West Road has been abandoned. Recent news reports show
the deplorable nature of the road. Motorists and travellers are stock and
stranded in the Bayelsa axis, an unmanageable gridlock of trucks and other
vehicles has formed stretching to several kilometers. A journey of between 15
and 20 minutes, now last for hours un-end. Same is happening at the
Akwa-Ibom/Cross River axis. The East-West Road is undoubtedly the haulage route
of the nation’s economy; yet it is a project not qualified as a priority
project for the monies recovered from Gen. Sani Abacha to be spent on.
My
adjuration, therefore, to the people of the South South, is that they should
esteem themselves as Bona fide Nigerians, and be courageous, in fighting for
their undeniable rights. Nobody owns this country more than they do; rather
Nigeria stands to lose, if there is crunch in our Region because of this
injustices, unfairness, neglect, and continued marginalization.
*Conclusion*
Today is June
12, which Mr. President declared, Democracy Day, last year, in place of May 29,
and the essence of this day, that is freedom and equality, epitomizes the crux
of this letter.
Therefore, as
we remember, the heroic courage and sacrifices of MKO Abiola, and all those who
have stood in defence of TRUTH, FREEDOM, and DEMOCRACY, may I implore, Mr.
President, to discard the togs of nepotism and injustice. And don the noble
vestments of inclusiveness, equity, fairness, and justice, for the betterment
of Nigeria, our dear country as in the days when the politically motivated Kano
State voted against their son Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the National Republican
Convention (NRC) and voted massively for Alhaji Moshood Abiola of the Social
Democratic Party (SDP), from Souh-West.
That was the
height of Nigerian democracy.
I pray that
as we celebrate Democracy Day today, we go back to that era where Nigeria was
Nigeria; not now when religion and ethnicity decides who is popular and who is
better qualified to be voted for.
I am an old
man now, I have just celebrated my 93rd birthday, but it would be unthinkable
for me, to keep quiet in the face of such injustice, oppression, and
marginalisation, unfair and unjust treatment, being practised against my
people. I can say, without doubt, we have never had it this so bad.
I do not know
when it will please the Almighty God to call me home. But, let me sound this
note of warning, THINGS CANNOT CONTINUE THIS WAY!
Thank you, Mr
President.
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