Nigeria is so divided, says Edwin Clark at presentation of his memoir ‘Brutally Frank’

Edwin Clark, the convener of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum
(PANDEF), says Nigeria is divided as a result of injustice done to some regions
of the country.

Speaking at the presentation of his memoir “Brutally Frank”
on Thursday, the former minister of information said he had not been
celebrating his birthday since the Chibok girls’ abduction in 2014.

The elder statesman said the schoolgirls’ abduction was the
worst experience any country could have.

He complained about the unequal numbers of states in each
region, noting that “why is it that a region is having five states, others
having four, and one has seven?”

Clark said lack of trust was breaking up Nigeria, adding
that the country cannot be one by mere word of mouth alone. 

“Nigeria is so divided today. Today, I am not celebrating,
but I must thank God. I am not celebrating because I lost two younger
brothers,” he said.

“I have written a book, some people might want to take me to
court but that is the truth. You can’t kill the truth.

 “I am a Nigerian, I
won’t keep quiet when Nigerians are suffering. If Nigeria is not standing
properly there will be no peace.”

On May 20, Clark faulted President Muhammadu Buhari for
appointing Suleiman Abba, a former inspector-general of police (IGP), as
chairman of the Police trust fund (PTF) board.

He argued that the appointment was tantamount to
“compensating wrongdoing”, considering that Abba’s reappointment is a clear
“disregard for the provisions of the federal character as enshrined in the
country’s constitution.”