Elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark, National Leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, discusses with ADEBAYO FOLORUNSHO-FRANCIS in an interview with Punch News the reasons Nigeria should review the calls for restructuring, the growing unrest in the Rivers, and the ongoing conflict between Governor Sim Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, among other matters. In a recent letter to President Bola Tinubu, you called for restructuring and supported a review of the 2014 National Conference as a way to give the South-East region more clout. What influenced the way you behaved?
Nigeria cannot advance if all of the problems are not resolved. As you remember, we all got together for the 2014 national convention, which was attended by the principal delegates from every region. We had a fruitful discussion with the presence of Senator Godswill Akpabio, the current Senate President and the former governor of Akwa Ibom. Goodluck Jonathan was the president at the time, I believe. To him, we led a delegation. Ayo Adebanjo (Afenifere) led the West, and many of them represented the South-East. He consented after our excellent meeting, stating he had been considering it. A partial discussion of the nature of restructuring was also had. That's the reason he formed the committee.
It was said that the North had never supported it. Is that not the case? No, it isn't accurate. Just to get this out of the way. The North remained one entity. One thing stood out: they informed us that co-chairman Jerry Gana and former Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Coomassie had split up. They thought Gana was collaborating with us minority people. People seemed to be leaving even before we emerged. However, given how events have transpired, there is currently a renewed call for a national restructuring.
He Said: "Why would they not develop cold feet? Tell me the week you don’t have a northern governor coming to visit (the President) in Abuja. If they concentrate on their states, they won’t have time to come to Abuja. It is because they are not doing their job properly.