LEADERSHIP is not bought; it’s naturally earned.  Niger Delta found leadership in Oba Ovarenme Nogbaisi of Benin; he represents the hopes and aspirations of the common man in our God given land.

His resistance against British imperialism was our pride as a people from interlopers who desecrate our values; we had Jaja of Opobo whose leadership protected ideals of our people, Chief Nana Olomu, a pan Africanist whose preservation of ideas, life and economic independence led to war and subsequent exile and humiliation. Their conquests were our collective humiliation and restoration of pride in protecting our values.

Their traitors were concerned about personal gains and were willing tools of betrayal of the British colonial masters to destroy the social harmony of the region, same is been done to Edwin Clark’s leadership today. Crude oil sustains Nigeria’s unity and federation.  It built Lagos and Abuja, and it sustains Northern economy. Without crude oil Nigeria economy will collapse because 95% of the revenue accruable to the federation that enables each State come to Abuja for monthly derivation is from crude oil.

Without oil the North will divorce from the federation, this reality makes our unity false, identity artificial and future uncertain.  President Buhari must understand injustice meted to the region over the years must be redressed, if he is honest about fighting corruption.

We are fortunate to have Clark; I have observed him in public and private life as an open book, he does privately what you see publicly. He shoulders others pains, considers others before his immediate family. Ijaws call him national leader but others see him as South-South leader, his ancestry cuts across several ethnic groups in the region. Clark put his health at risk when Gbaramatu was bombarded and innocent persons killed. He tried in vain to reach military authorities and political leader. He thought of others during the Warri fratricidal war. When his house was burnt, Clark enjoined the Ijaws and the Urhobo not to retaliate because “our struggle is ideological, it’s about equity and peace not ethnic cleansing. I am an Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo, we cannot slaughter ourselves”. As the destruction raged, he lamented the senseless carnage.

There is no person of Clark’s status who has shown commitment and patriotism as he has.   Niger Delta is not restricted to Ogoni, Urhobo, Itsekiri, Isoko or any other ethnic group affairs; we must see what affects one as affecting all, our problems are collective and localising such problems without effects on all is divisive. These were the  same antics employed to destroy our solidarity and install divide and rule tactics.

Clark had benefited nothing from his numerous engagements rather the region has benefit from his voice, actions and ideas. Those who feel Clark have not raised a voice against political leaders in the region are either ignorant or are mischief makers. They should check the records. Clark had written petitions to EFCC against many and taken others to courts. However, while doing this, he believes the Nigerian state should not use this to deny the region of its rights, demanding a marshal plan of development for the region.

Clark came from silence to stop the hawks surrounding President Buhari from using the Avengers bombing of oil pipelines to invade and destroy innocent communities. He mobilisd all sections of the divide to have Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, which culminated in the meeting with President Mohammadu Buhari and presented demands. Pipelines vandalism had subsided after his intervention and relative stability in the Oil industry sustained, but has the federal government reciprocated to consolidate on gains made? We must separate criminals from genuine agitators. We have been exploited from colonial times  to independence and this has continued by subsequent Nigerian governments. In the South, Lagos is functioning because of Yoruba’s insistence in protecting their own. They are beautiful brides who attract development on their terms.

The Warri, Koko and Burutu ports are liquidated and have become corrosive. Port Harcourt and Calabar ports  suffer same fate while Lagos Port is booming. Has the federal government paused to think what a functional port system in the region could do to revive economic activities and arrest the teeming crowd of unemployment among our youths? Lagos with similar terrain as Niger Delta is developing but why can’t this reflect in a region that feeds the federation? There is environmental pollution because of crude oil, Agriculture, fishing and salt production are no more. That’s why the youths prefer death to servitude.

Edwin Clark  under President Jonathan never lost his voice. He praised him when necessary and chastised him when the need arose. Those who easily forget the past  suffer from amnesia. The Buhari administration must key into Clark’s PANDEF if peace must be attained. There is no other leadership other than Clark, and he must act quickly unless there is a deliberate policy to provoke crisis. The youths are tired of endless promises without results.

Mr.  Prince Abugo, is SA , Social Advocacy to the Delta State Governor.