We no go allow dem scrap Niger Delta Ministry – Edwin Clark

Former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Dr. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark don tackle President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for scrapping di Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs on October 23, 2024, talk say di pipo for di region no go allow am.

Di elder statesman wey also be di leader of di Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), for statement wey him make on Wednesday, October 23, come describe di move as a no just, wey dey harm di region development efforts.

According to NewsBand report, President Tinubu and di Federal Executive Council on Tuesday, don scrap di Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, come join am wit di new Ministry of Regional Development.

Dem do dis one make dem for take am reduce di cost of governance.

Meanwhile, Chief Clark don show say him very surprise for di decision, as him come talk say di ministry na wetin late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua create to take tackle security wahala and promote development for di region.

“Wetin we don notice so far dis mata be say no reason dey to take scrap am.” Na so him talk am

“Yar’Adua get clear purpose to take address di security situation for Niger Delta, wey bin lead to di creation of di ministry wey focus on developing dat area.”

“We don dey work for some time now, dey manage our commission.”

Him dey argue say, di ministry dey important to take meet di unique needs of Niger Delta, no be just for administrative purpose alone.

Also, Dr. Clark dey vex for di slow progress of major infrastructure projects, especially di East-West Road, wey dem transfer to di Ministry of Works without any meaningful development unda di Niger Delta Ministry oversight.

“Why you go take ova ministry without any development plans, funding, or concrete actions?”

“Even di East-West Road, wey suppose dey unda di Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, no dey get attention; dem don hand am back to di Ministry of Works,” na so him take lament.

Dr. Clark come warn say without targeted efforts, di federal government dey risk neglecting di development of Niger Delta region.

Him further remember discussion during di 2014 National Conference wey propose to increase revenue allocation to oil-producing regions from 13% to 18%, wit extra allocations for areas wey dey face conflict.

“I remember during di national conference for 2014, wey dem decide to increase di revenue allocation to di regions from 13% to 25%.

But ultimately, dem come am settle for 18%, but we no agree, wey lead to further discussion about separate fund to support development afta Boko Haram,” him talk am.

Him come conclude wen warn say di ministry dissolution fit cause unrest, as him talk, “We no go allow am to scrap.”

“Di government no fit use South-South resources to take develop oda regions while dem dey neglect Niger Delta.”

Chief Dr. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark

Edwin Clark na Naija statesman, Ijaw leader and politician from Delta State wey work wit di administrations of military governor Mr. Samuel Ogbemudia and di head of state, General Yakubu Gowon between 1966 and 1975.

For 1966, him be one of di member of di advisory committee to di military governor of di Mid-Western Region Province Former Major General David Ejoor, and dem appoint am Federal Commissioner of Information for 1975.

Clark be unofficial advisor to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Him be philanthropist wey found Edwin Clark Foundation and establish university for him hometown.

Political Career

Clark involvement for political process start during di pre-independence period wen dem elect am as Councillor for Bomadi for 1953.

Clark later join National Council of Naija and di Cameroons (NCNC).

While him bi student for Holborn College, him dey active for West African Students’ Union.

Afta di military coup of January 1966, Clark bin dey among group of delegates from di Mid-West wey oppose any idea of confederation wey dem raise for ad-hoc constitutional conference wey Gowon set up for 1966.

Di delegation mandate na Naija unity and wen dem table proposals of loose federation, di region delegates ask for adjournment.

Clark come later be di Midwestern Commissioner of Education and later, Finance.

As commissioner for education, him dey active for di establishment of Mid-west College of Technology wey become di foundation of University of Benin.

During di second republic, him be member of di national executive committee of di National Party of Naija (NPN) and him be di treasurer of di party for Bendel State (now, part of Delta State and previously di Mid-Western Region province).

For 1983, him come be elected senator for three months at di end of di Sharia administration.

From 1996, Clark don dey call himself leader of di Ijaw nation.

Him support di Ijaw ethnic group for Delta State during ethnic crisis for Warri and don lead Ijaw leadership delegations to meet political leaders.

Chief Edwin K. Clark na di founder of Edwin Clark University.

Di institution start for May 2015.

E be previously known as Edwin Clark University of Technology (ECUT) but later change am Edwin Clark University.

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