Edwin Clark, a Niger Delta leader and Elder statesman, has distanced the South-south region from the Biafra proposed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Recall that both the South-south and South-East were part of the defunct Eastern Region which rebelled against Nigeria from 1967 to 1970 and formed Biafra Republic.
The Nnamdi Kanu-led IPOB is agitating to break out the Old Eastern region from Nigeria to form Biafra Republic.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Pidgin on IPOB, Clark said IPOB and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, must be dreaming to include the Niger Delta region.
“They are very unrealistic boys. To me, IPOB is not pursuing the right thing.” he continued, “I told him (IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu) that he has a good fight, that the people of the East are being neglected. They have only five states, whereas other regions have six. In fact, one has seven. Based on what? Nobody knows.
“For every appointment that is being made in this country, the Igbo are shortchanged. If Universities are being distributed per state, they will have five. Others will have six while North-West will have seven. This is despite the Igbo forming the third leg when this country was created.
“So, they have a good complaint, but going about it wrongly.”
Asked if the S/South states are also part of Biafra, the elder statesman said, “How can Delta be part of Biafra? In what way? Is Biafra older or bigger than Delta?
“How can Rivers State or Akwa Ibom become part of Biafra? They are dreaming for still thinking about the Eastern Region of those days.”
On Kanu’s rearrest, Clark said, “‘I hope the Federal Government will give him a fair, decent and open trial. Because, up till today, I do not understand how the Federal Government got him back into Nigeria.
“We remember the days of Umaru Dikko who was put in a big box and brought back to Nigeria. I don’t know how this young man (Kanu) was brought back to Nigeria.”
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