Elder statesman and leader of the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), Pa Edwin Clark, has highlighted the group's primary mission of advocating for the interests of Southerners, people from the Middle Belt, and minorities across Nigeria. In an interview with The Sun, Clark elaborated on various pressing issues, including the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the marginalization of the Igbo, the minimum wage, state police, and allegations of nepotism against President Bola Tinubu.
During the interview, Pa Clark addressed the sensitive topic of Nnamdi Kanu's detention. He expressed his involvement in Kanu's case, noting his past criticisms of Kanu's actions. Clark recalled advising Kanu to exercise restraint and avoid actions detrimental to the country, pointing out that Kanu's approach sometimes exacerbated tensions. He emphasized the importance of peaceful demonstrations and constructive engagement in pursuing justice and fairness.
Clark also touched upon the broader issues of marginalization and systemic inequalities faced by various ethnic groups, particularly the Igbo. He underscored the necessity of addressing these grievances to foster national unity and equity. According to Clark, the persistent feeling of exclusion among the Igbo and other minority groups could only be mitigated through genuine dialogue and equitable political representation.
On the topic of state police, Pa Clark advocated for its implementation as a means to enhance security and local governance. He argued that state policing could provide a more tailored and effective response to local security challenges, reducing the strain on federal law enforcement agencies. This, he believes, would contribute significantly to the overall safety and stability of the nation.
He said: For sometime now, I have been involved in this Nnamdi Kanu affair. Once I criticized him for going too far. I accused him that you were in your mother’s womb when the war was being fought. This war took place in 1967 and you were not born at that time. Take it easy. You have every right to demonstrate but don’t kill people, don’t do things that are not good for the country.