Edwin Clark, an Ijaw national leader, says the south-east region is the most disadvantaged geopolitical zone in Nigeria.
Clark spoke while addressing stakeholders at the south-south zonal conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, on Friday.
The conference organised by Agape Birthrights, founded by the Ankio Brigs, in partnership with Savanna Centre, was themed “Restructuring: Imperatives for Sustainable Development, Unity and Security”.
According to Clark, the presence of five states in the south-east is a form of “injustice” when compared to the six states in other geopolitical zones and seven states in the north-west.
He said the south-east zone has been a victim of inequality — resulting in several agitations.
“South-east geopolitical zone has five states, while other zones, the south-south, the south-west, the north-central, the north-east, have six states each. In fact, the north-west has seven states, what injustice against a people,” he said.
“Look at the northernisation policy going on in the country. Appointments are skewed in favour of the north, in total disregard to the feelings of other areas. Key positions in the ministries, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, customs, police, you name it, are all given to northerners.
“There are 17 security arms, 14 of them are headed by northerners. Yet one expects that there shall be national unity. Of course, it will not be possible. There must be dissatisfaction and agitation.
“For instance, look at what is happening in the south-east today. Our critical national assets are being attacked almost every day. People are killed, maimed. While one is gravely against such a method of expressing grievance, the people are pushed to the wall.
“The south-east geopolitical zone could rightly be described as the most disadvantaged. One could not understand why the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) will be declared as a terrorist organization, while similar organizations in the north have not been so declared.”
Clark said unity has become a “scarce commodity” in Nigeria.
He said lack of unity is causing distrust and heightened suspicion in many parts of the country.
The Ijaw leader added that Nigeria must adopt restructuring to tackle insecurity and end rising agitations.
“Unity in this country today is unfortunately a scarce commodity despite the fact that unity is one of the four cardinal points contained in our country’s motto, which is unity and faith, peace and progress,” he added.
“Our nation has never been so disunited, as we are today. There is so much distrust. We suspect one another’s next move. No nation can survive with such a level of distrust. And the major cause of disunity in the country today is inequality.
“You do not expect me to live in unity with someone who is oppressing me, and treating me as though I am a second-class citizen in my own country. This is unacceptable.
“There is so much agitation in the country. Fortunately, there is a solution to these issues. An action that can be taken and the nation will to a large extent be at peace; and that is to restructure Nigeria now.”
