By Mitaire Ikpen
Abuja — Frontline elder statesman and acclaimed leader of the Ijaw nation, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, yesterday, challenged the northern elite, comprising the governors of the 19 northern states, to prove their commitment to the peace and continued co-existence of Nigeria by identifying the masterminds of the rampaging Boko Haram sect and bringing them to the negotiating table.

The octogenarian gave the challenge at a parley with the theme “The Need for National Cooperation for Nation Building,” organised by the Ijaw Youth Leadership Forum (Oporoza House) at the International Conference Centre, Abuja to celebrate President Goodluck Jonathan’s one year in office as well as 13 years of undisrupted democracy in Nigeria.

Chief Edwin Clark

Clark recalled that during the days of Niger Delta militancy, himself, President Jonathan and other prominent leaders from the region combed the creeks of Niger Delta in several peace meetings to persuade the then rampaging militants to give peace a chance by showing up at the negotiating table, leading to the successful amnesty programme initiated during the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration.

He, however, lamented that despite these past sacrifices by leaders from the South at promoting nation-building and facilitating national coexistence, the northern elite appear to be playing to the gallery with the Boko Haram insurgency which is threatening the very fabric of the nation.

“This (security situation) happens in every country. Nigeria is a big country. You don’t expect everybody to be the same. In his (President’s) own area, we had these kind of issues before, the militants and young men who went into the creeks. We went into the creeks to appeal to them. I even went with Mr. President then to Oporoza, to Camp 5 to persuade them and when they agreed, President Yar’Adua granted amnesty to them.

“We do hope that the 19 governors of the north will also go their various states, identify these boys, and bare their grievances, make peace with them and I think the Federal Government will recognise them and make peace with them.”

We  ‘ll not allow Nigeria’s break-up

Several other eminent Nigerians who spoke on critical national issues, criticised calls for the disintegration of the country and urged all Nigerians to work for peaceful coexistence.

Leading the pack, former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana, described those calling for disintegration of the country as shallow-minded and warned them to refrain from peddling uncouth utterances. He noted that it was the design of providence for President Jonathan who is from the South-South to hold sway as President, and called on other geo-political zones to support the President to succeed.

He also appealed to any aggrieved section of the country to give peace a chance by embracing dialogue and negotiation to move the nation forward.

He said: “I am amazed at the shallow wisdom of those calling for the breakup of Nigeria without knowing the colossal consequences. We from the Middle Belt are totally committed to protecting the peace, well-being and territorial integrity of Nigeria. The formulation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is in the best interest of the minority groups. Maybe the majority groups will want to go away, we the small small groups want Nigeria to continue.

“By the grace of God, we will not blow up under President Goodluck Jonathan. South South arise and shine your time has come, and make sure that during your time, Nigeria is solidly together.”

Jonathan needs our collective support—Ogoriba

Speaking in the same vein, convener of the parley, Elder T. K. Ogoriba, urged leaders from other geo-political zones to reciprocate the support and sacrifices that the South-South people had accorded past leaders of the nation by joining hands with the Jonathan administration towards nation building,

He said: “Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is a symbol of leadership today. He needs our collective support. It is not at this time Nigeria will break up. We will not allow that. We have made a lot of sacrifices with our blood and with our resources. Why will it be that it is when President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, our son, is ruling that things are going sour security-wise?

“In the past, other geo-political zones have given support to previous leaders. Therefore, today it is the turn of the son of the South-South. We want to appeal that the cooperation of yesteryears be accorded to a man from the South-South. We need the support of every Nigerian to make Nigeria a big success.

…FCT minister, Nkanga appeal to Nigerians

Corroborating, Federal Capital Territory Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, enjoined all Nigerians “to remove all elements of discord and rancour, and bring all our diversities into one basket of unity. President Jonathan has become more than a son to the Ijaws but a son to all Nigeria. It is not because of godfatherism that we are in his cabinet but the drive to perform. He is a strong leader and we are all bonded by patriotism and a common purpose to move Nigeria forward.”

Chairman of the occasion, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd), admonished all leaders and players in the polity to be considerate in their utterances, noting that “part of the solutions to Nigeria’s problems lies with us all. We must all learn to live together or we will be forced to perish together. Today Nigeria has come of age and we should do away with childish things.”

Keynote speaker at the occasion, Justice Aldophus Karibi-Whyte, attributed the nation’s woes to individuals who had become incorrigible, adding:“Except individuals change their orientation for the better, we will continue to have rotten institutions. Our coexistence should be predicated on the golden rule by Jesus Christ: Do not do unto others what you will not want them do to you.”