Your Call To Remove Imo, Abia, Ondo States From NDDC Satanic – Ohaneze Slams Edwin Clark

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has rejected the call by prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, to remove Abia, Imo, and Ondo States from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Recall that the elder statesman, during a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, had urged President Bola Tinubu to expel the three states because they were initially included for the sake of convenience.

Clark argued further that the presence of Abia, Imo and Ondo States in the 2000 NDDC Act is a political aberration as they are not part of the Niger Delta.

But in a statement on Wednesday, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said Clark’s call was satanic, parochial barbarism, and detrimental to national cohesion and unity.

Isiguzoro said he expected the Ijaw leader to advocate for the gazetting of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s recognition of the Old Anambra River Basins as oil-producing states.

He, however, accused Clark of promoting ethnic bigotry, which he said has no place in our diverse and multicultural society.

The statement reads: “Rather than engaging in divisive rhetoric and exclusionary tactics, Ohanaeze Ndigbo expected Chief Edwin Clark to advocate for the gazetting of former President Buhari’s recognition of the Old Anambra River Basins as oil-producing states. This recognition includes Anambra, Enugu, and Kogi States, which should be incorporated into the NDDC. By ignoring this crucial aspect, Chief Clark has displayed a blatant disregard for fairness and equity.

“Furthermore, considering the economic hardships caused by the removal of fuel subsidies, Ohanaeze Ndigbo strongly condemns Chief Clark’s views. We find his comments deeply disappointing and unacceptable, as they do not reflect the position of the Niger Delta region as a whole. Ethnic bigotry has no place in our nation’s discourse, and leaders like Chief Clark must work towards fostering unity and inclusivity rather than sowing seeds of division.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo urges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rise above Chief Clark’s divisive rhetoric and reject his exclusionary stance. We call on President Tinubu to uphold the principles of fairness and equality by incorporating the Old Anambra River Basins into the NDDC. This step would not only rectify the historical injustices suffered by the Igbo people but also promote national integration, development, and unity.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo remains committed to the pursuit of a united and prosperous Nigeria, where every ethnic group is accorded equal rights and opportunities. We will continue to advocate for the fair treatment of all regions and work towards a future characterized by harmony, understanding, and shared prosperity.”