Connect with us

Politics

In open letter Obasanjo fires back at Clark over accusation of hate for Niger Delta

Published

on

A former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has responded to claims by an elderly statesman of the Niger Delta, Chief Edwin Clark, that he hates the region.

Obasanjo issued this rejoinder on Monday via an open letter written and addressed to Clark, noting that he had never shown anger or disdain for the Niger Delta region or any part of the country.

Ripples Nigeria had reported that Clark, the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) had written an open letter to Obasanjo.

He stated that Obasanjo’s comments that the oil found in the Niger Delta does not belong to the people of the region represents his disposition towards the Niger Delta.

Nonetheless, Obasanjo, in the letter titled “My response to the open letter by Clark” said: “Let me proceed with the most basic constitutional fact that you cannot have two entities in a sovereign State.”

“I have never shown any anger, distraught with Niger Delta region nor any part of Nigeria.

READ ALSO: Why Tinubu avoids talks on restructuring – Clark

“Some of the languages you have deployed to describe me in your letter are offensive, uncouth and I totally and completely rejected them.

“I am not inconsistent, hypocritical, unstatesman, and nor am I anybody’s lackey.

“You use your own yardstick to judge others. I hope you think and adjust. Negotiation achieves better results than dictation. Revolution for sea-change may rarely happen and then we may continue to languish in frustration and regret with dire judgment in posterity.

“What you call an outburst is my own way of calling attention. I raise my voice such that those who are sleeping would have to wake up to listen to me. Truth must be stated and upheld, no matter how bitter it might be.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now