“For instance, he appointed 14 out of 17 security chiefs from one section of the country. So, the declaration that `he belongs to everybody and nobody’ was a sham. I make bold to say that the reverse has been the case, `he belongs to some people’, but not the entire Nigeria’’
A groundswell of condemnation has continued to trail the performance of President Muhammadu Buhari in his eight-year tenure with the latest from the leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), nonagenarian Chief Edwin Clark, who has branded him as the worst leader in the annals of Nigeria’s political governance.
Clark, who clocked 94 last week, carpeted Buhari for failing to see and govern the country as his constituency but marginalized and humiliated the Niger Delta people during his tenure.
Persecondnews had reported that former National Deputy Chairman of PDP, Chief Olabode George had spanked Buhari as an unmitigated failure, scoring him just 5 per cent.
Clark said: “In the past eight years, President Buhari has demonstrated in most cases that he did not belong to the whole country but to a group, his tribe and religion which is contrary to what he said in his inaugural speech that he `belong to everybody’.
“For instance, he appointed 14 out of 17 security chiefs from one section of the country. So, the declaration that `he belongs to everybody and nobody’ was a sham. I make bold to say that the reverse has been the case, `he belongs to some people’, but not the entire Nigeria.
“Even in simple matters like extending the good wishes of the government to notable personalities in the country on their birthdays or other landmark attainments, the Muhammadu Buhari administration was selective and biased in who it chooses to recognize or consider worthy of goodwill messages.’’
The one-time Minister of Information gave the damning report on the Buhari administration at a news conference held at his Asokoro residence on Sunday.
Clark recalled Buhari’s statement at his inauguration in 2015: “Having just a few minutes ago sworn on a holy book, I intend to keep my oath and serve as President to all Nigerians. I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody.”
He pointed out that the outgoing President neglected to keep and follow through with his promise, adding that he failed to live up to his duties as the leader of the country.
Recalling the appointments made by Buhari, Clark accused him of nepotism, saying: “Conclusively, uncivilized bias, unfairness, and nepotism have been the staple characteristics of the Buhari administration.
“For instance, as I had cited earlier, out of the 17 top Military, paramilitary, security, and Intelligence related positions in Nigeria; persons from the northern zones of North West, North East, and North Central are at the helms of 14 while only three are held by persons from the three southern zones of south-south, southeast, and southwest.
“The government need not be told that discrimination is a danger to any society, particularly, a plural society like ours. We, I and 15 other patriotic Nigerians, are currently in court, over the desecration of the Federal Character Law on appointments by the Buhari administration.
“Probably, it never occurred to President Muhammadu Buhari that he is president of the entire country and not just a section; and that he was elected by all zones of Nigeria, including the southern zones without the votes from the South, he would not have satisfied the constitutional requirement of 25% in 2/3 of the states and the Federal Capital Territory to become President of Nigeria.
“I considered it an obligation to make this communication from a standpoint of patriotism to highlight the failures of the outgoing administration, particularly the callous inattention of the administration to issues of the Niger Delta region.
“And to further accentuate the developmental necessities of the people of the region, with the justified expectation that the incoming federal administration will bestow a fairer disposition and responsiveness to the Niger Delta region.’’
Clark, who is also the leader of the Southern and Middle Belt Leadership Forum (SMBLF), added: “What is needed, indeed, is a just, equitable, and more egalitarian approach to the administration and management of the nation’s resources and the conduct of state affairs. This country belongs to all of us!”
He accused the government of failing to construct a single road in the Southsouth zone particularly in the railway infrastructure while also blasted ministers from the region for doing the biddings of their master.
“For instance, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, signed off marginal oil fields to people from other regions while neglecting Niger Delta people.
“Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, was more interested in providing railway infrastructure to Niger Republic than reviving the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri corridor in his own area,’’ Persecondnews quotes Clark as saying.
On outgoing Delta Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa, the ijaw leader also told newmen:“The outgoing governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, should account for the sum of N1,077,450,286,552.17 (trillion) he allegedly collected on behalf of oil producing communities from 2015-2022 as 13% derivation fund.
“There will be need to give an account of this money. This letter will be copied to your predecessor in office Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, for him to also account for the money he received from the Federal Government from June 2007 to May 2015, amounting to ₦765,662,198,080.07 (seven hundred and sixty five billion, six hundred sixty two million, one hundred and ninety eight thousand, eighty naira, seven Kobo).
“From the records available, you have only released, in instalments, the sum of ₦232 billion to the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) out of the 50% of the derivation fund received, which ought to go to the oil producing communities.
“In fact, you kept under your control the total amount paid by the Federal Government, and dispense it as you like. This is ultra vires.”
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