Former Minister of Information and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, has called on President Bola Tinubu to order the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Clark also demanded the dismantling of policies that marginalize the Igbo ethnic group in Nigeria.
In an open letter dated June 13 and addressed to President Tinubu, Clark highlighted the ongoing marginalization and discrimination faced by the Igbo people since the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970. He emphasized that despite the war concluding 54 years ago with a declaration of “No Victor, No Vanquished,” the Igbo who sided with Biafra continue to suffer systemic oppression.
Clark’s letter, obtained by the New Telegraph, argues that the continued detention of Kanu, while others with similar cases have been freed, represents a significant injustice. He contends this situation underscores the incomplete reintegration of the Igbo into Nigerian society, more than five decades after the civil war.
The elder statesman expressed concern that Kanu remains detained on allegations of establishing the Eastern Security Network (ESN) to protect the Southeast from herdsmen attacks. In contrast, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), who allegedly formed a militia supporting violent herders, has not faced similar repercussions.
Clark argued that the persistent division within Nigeria is rooted in the unequal treatment of its citizens, especially those who participated in the civil war. He pointed out that other nations, such as the United States, have reconciled and moved forward after similar conflicts. Clark referred to the American Civil War, which lasted from April 12, 1861, to May 26, 1865, and the subsequent reconstruction era aimed at reuniting the country.
He noted that General Yakubu Gowon had initiated efforts towards reconstruction, rehabilitation, and reconciliation in Nigeria following the civil war. However, Gowon’s overthrow in 1975 halted these efforts, leaving the Eastern Region marginalized. Clark asserted that Nigeria has remained disunited since then, and it would be unpatriotic to pretend otherwise.
Clark attributed the current insecurity in the Southeast to widespread uncertainty and dissatisfaction among young people regarding their future in Nigeria. He also criticized certain Igbo leaders for accepting their status as second-class citizens, contributing to the ongoing marginalization.
In his letter, Clark urged President Tinubu to take decisive actions to rectify these injustices and foster a truly united Nigeria, where all ethnic groups are treated with equal respect and opportunities.