Leader of the Ijaw Nation, Chief Edwin Clark, has accused former President Muhammadu Buhari of actively working to marginalize the Igbos from Nigeria's South-Eastern region.
In a letter to President Bola Tinubu, Clark highlighted instances where Buhari allegedly excluded the southeast from key appointments during his tenure. Specifically, he pointed out that no individuals from the South East were appointed to the Board of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), despite the region's three oil-producing states: Abia, Anambra, and Imo.
Clark also criticized the distribution of a $22.7 billion loan under Buhari's administration, claiming that less than 1% was allocated to the South East, while other regions received significantly more. Additionally, Clark noted that Buhari failed to appoint service chiefs from the southeast, with 14 out of 17 security chiefs coming from the northern region.
“President Buhari did everything to subjugate the Igbos for reasons best known to him," Clark stated. He cited the composition of the NNPC board as an example, which initially had no representation from the South East despite its oil-producing states. While Buhari later appointed Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as chairman of the second board, Ararume was eventually replaced, leading to legal challenges that remain unresolved.
Clark further criticized the unequal distribution of foreign loans, noting that less than 1% of a $22.7 billion loan was allocated to the South East, contrary to the constitutional requirement for balanced economic development. Additionally, he pointed out the disproportionate representation in Buhari's security appointments, with the majority being from the North.
Clark expressed concern that the "discrimination and injustice" against the Igbos continues under President Tinubu's administration. He pointed out that Tinubu appointed 10 ministers from the Southwestern region but only six from the South East, calling this an unjustified omission.
“Mr. President, even in your administration, the discrimination and injustice against the Igbos has not abated," Clark wrote. He urged Tinubu to rectify this imbalance and called for immediate restructuring of the country, emphasizing the need to implement the 600 recommendations from the 2014 National Conference Report.
"Now that the elections are over, we must face the restructuring of this country. Immediate action must be taken if Nigeria is to remain unified," Clark asserted, appealing to Tinubu to take decisive steps towards implementing the conference's recommendations and ensuring the rights of the Igbos are recognized and respected.
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