Plateau Killings: Restructure Nigeria Now, Edwin Clark tells Tinubu

Convener, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Edwin Clark, at the weekend said that the only solution to challenges confronting Nigeria, especially insecurity, is restructuring.

Clark stated this in an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, obtained by ABN TV, where he sympathised with the President over the recent killings in Plateau State.

The Elder Statesman insisted that restructuring Nigeria is the only way to stop the barbaric blood bath ongoing in Plateau State.

According to him, the killings in Plateau State is not only an attack on the people of Plateau, but also an attack on the President and the entire nation of Nigeria.

He, therefore, advised President Tinubu to take decisive action “in order to bring the perpetrators of these heinous acts to justice”, including setting up a powerful commission of inquiry, amongst others.

Chief Clark, however, commended President Tinubu for his response to the killings by sending Vice President Kashim Shettima to Plateau state and for emphasising that “these envoys of death, pain and sorrow will not escape justice”.

Full Letter Below;

AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU GCFC ON THE PLATEAU MASSACRE AND THE RESTRUCTURING OF NIGERIA AS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS BABARIC BLOOD BATH

Firstly, Mr President, I want to extend my warmest wishes for a very happy New year. I pray that the Almighty God grants you good health and the strength to lead our country with even greater courage and wisdom as we enter the New year on the 1st of January 2024.

Secondly, I would also like to express my heartfelt sympathy on the senseless and barbaric killings in plateau state. It is not only an attack on the people of Plateau, but also an attack on our President and the entire nation of Nigeria.

I respectfully advise Your Excellency to take decisive action in order to bring the perpetrators of these heinous acts to justice. As suggested by others, it would be beneficial to set up a powerful commission of inquiry consisting of responsible patriotic and loyal citizens, including senior retired officers of the armed forces. This commission should conduct a thorough investigation into the killings of innocent citizens and the destruction of properties particularly in Plateau State.

Nigerians are eager to know whether these bandits are operating within Nigeria or if they are from outside the country. It is also important to uncover any involvement, of the army in this tragic incident. The findings of the commission should be handled with precision, and the recommendations should be implemented without hesitation. There should be no sacred cows in dealing with the sponsors and perpetrators of these acts. It is crucial to take decisive actions and hold them accountable for their actions.

ONLY RESTRUCTURING OF NIGERIA WILL STOP MAN INHUMANITY TO MAN SUCH AS THE UNPROVOKED MASSACRE IN PLATEAU STATE.

It is with profound dismay that Nigerians woke up in the morning, ready to embrace the Christmas festivities, only to be confronted with the horrifying news of the senseless slaughter of Plateau natives. Numerous innocent lives, including those of children, were tragically taken. This dreadful incident has been extensively covered by various Nigerian Medias, as well as the foreign papers such as the London Guardian which reported a casualty count of 150 on December 26, 2023, while the exact number of victims was still uncertain in Nigeria, even among state officials.

I commend Mr. President for his response to the event by sending the vice president and he emphasized that “these envoys of death, pain and sorrow will not escape justice”. In light of the attacks on Christmas Eve, security operatives have been instructed to actively pursue the perpetrators. Also Nigerians are waiting Mr President personal visit at this time of grief, it is crucial to question whether they are indeed being pursued. It is perplexing how a large group of terrorists can carry out such devastating attacks on 17 villages in two nights, resulting in the loss of countless lives. Only to vanish without a trace. It is disheartening that we continue to allow them to escape in this manner. Furthermore, it is concerning to note that despite the significant amount of money spent on our securities and secret services, the interventions implemented have produced no tangible results.

Let me recall that in the past, cattle owners would often reach amicable agreements with the community regarding their desire to rear cattle for the season. As a result of these agreements, the cattle would graze in the area, and at the end of the season, the leaves and manure left behind by the cattle became highly beneficial to the community farmers.
However, the situation of the old system has changed due to the intervention of politicians who now insist on the Fulani’s claiming ownership of land that rightfully belongs to others. That gave right to the issue of owners and settlers. In particularly the creation of Jos-north local government gave the Fulani’s the right of ownership of the land they had earlier settled.

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It is wrong for anyone to describe the situation in Plateau state as a battle or war between two communities or inter communal war. Rather, it is a one-sided attack on innocent indigenes of the plateau communities, aimed at seizing their land. This has been happening for the past two decades, with armed Fulani herdsmen deliberately targeting and displacing the people. It is disheartening that the federal government has not taken decisive action to address this genocide in a country where the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is being ignored and violated, leaving Nigerian citizens to abandon their homes for the invaders to occupy their land and seek refuge in camps. There are politicians who have been sponsoring these dangerous herdsmen, armed with AK-47 rifles, and it is known by the authorities as this was stated sometime ago by the former governor of Kaduna state Mallam Elrufai when he openly asserted that the authority knows this invaders and where they are and some even have their telephone numbers. The question is: Is it difficult for the military to pursue and apprehend these marauders, especially in area where they are no thick forest in the north? The president and the government took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of Nigeria in section 14 (1) as stated:
The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice.
(2) It is hereby, accordingly, declared that-
(a) sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derive all its powers and authority
(b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government;and
(c) the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provision of this Constitution.

This is one of the main reasons why many Nigerians are calling for the restructuring of the country, allowing people in different states to live freely and develop their regions or state without intimidation or oppression from any quarter. Currently, we are not practicing a true federal system where people can freely move and exercise their rights to freedom of speech and association. We need a federation where all citizens are equal and there is mutual respect for one another. In this federation, each state or region should be able to develop at its own pace, utilizing the resources available within their boundaries without any hindrance as it was in the first republic which was confirmed in the 1963 republican constitution.
However, the current situation is such that the states, which are supposed to be autonomous according to section 5 (2) of the 1999 constitution, are treated as subsidiary of the federal government where by the federal government take all the resources available in various state, leaving them with no control over their own resources found in their backyard.

Additionally, the states are made to travel to Abuja every month to receive their monthly allowance (allocation), which is generated from the resources of the states themselves. Unfortunately, the governors of these states often prioritize their loyalty to the president rather than to their own allegiance or federal republic of Nigeria. This loyalty has led to a belief that their survival depends on submitting their constitutional rights to the president.
Today the President is regarded as the most powerful President in the world.

Moreover, it is important to note that the state governors, who are the chief security officer of their respective states, do not have their own police force to maintain law and other. As a result, the armed forces, whose primary duty is to defend the integrity of Nigeria, are now performing the duties of the Nigeria police as they are found in every state in the federation including government houses. The 1999 constitution is not a federal constitution in nature but unity in practice government as it is more dictatorial than the military administration which came into being after the 1966 coup carried out by 5 military majors. Prominent Nigerians have expressed their belief that without restructuring, the country may not survive, as it is unfair for some citizens to be more privileged than others. I strongly advise President Tinubu to remain a Democrat and prioritize the consideration of the 2014 National Conference committee and the Elrufai recommendation which was set up by APC National executive committee.

The 2014 national Conference event attended for about 3 months by 492 delegates from various sectors of the society including traditional rulers, former legislators, the challenged including the deaf, blind and cripple who were provided by necessary instruments to enable them participate.
At the conference, there were a minimum of six delegates representing each of the 36 states. And other delegates came from various professional bodies, academia, pensioners, trade unions, and retired professional bodies such as the army, police, and prison officers. Additionally, women’s organizations and youth representatives were also present. The conference chairman was the highly respected former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kutigi, with equally highly respected former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akiyimi, serving as his deputy and the secretary was our daughter and esteemed lawyer Mrs. Valerie Azingesan. During the conference, a significant number of recommendations, specifically 600, were generated. The conclusion of the conference was marked by a peaceful atmosphere and a sense of celebration. I vividly recall a moment when a close friend Prof Jibril Aminu former senator and former minister of education, whom I hold in high regard, turned to me, shook my hand, and proclaimed, “A new Nigeria has been born.” This profound statement was followed by a visit to the esteemed Lamido of Adamawa, one of our respected traditional rulers at the conference. There, we exchanged of warm embraces and I humbly expressed, “Your Royal Majesty, you do not have to go again to settle in another Adamawa State in the Cameroon”. We captured the cherished moment with a photograph, symbolizing our bond and shared aspirations. Unfortunately, former President Buhari disregarded the conference report, consigning it to obscurity.
However, it is worth noting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) later took a similar stance by establishing a committee to address the issue of restructuring in Nigeria under the chairmanship of Elrufai and prominent members of APC as members. Their recommendations signify their recognition of the importance of restructuring Nigeria if Nigeria is to remain as one country. The report was submitted, bearing a striking resemblance to the 2014 report. Subsequently, it was accepted during the APC NEC meeting, which President Buhari attended. This was confirmed by Chief John Oyegun, the National Chairman of the APC and former governor of Edo state, as well as Mallam El-Rufai, the chairman of the committee. I respectfully urge President Tinubu treat as a matter of priority in the New Year 2024 the restructuring of Nigeria.

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Mr. President you have always being the principle advocate of restructuring, even before you became senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the governor of Lagos State. During your time, you passionately advocated for a sovereign national conference, which was even more inclusive than the current restructuring we are demanding for Nigeria. Undoubtedly, this pursuit of restructuring will be one of your most enduring legacies when you leave office.

Can we rule out complicity among our security forces? It is essential to recognize that this unfortunate incident of insecurity is undoubtedly linked to President Muhammed Buhari’s eight-year administration. It is worth mentioning that even before his presidency in 2015, there were indications of close relationship between Buhari and Boko Haram, especially when they designated him as their representative for negotiations with President Jonathan’s government, although he rejected the offer. However, despite his refusal, the perception of complexity still remains.

President Goodluck Jonathan, in his book “The Renaissance” at page 67”, disputes the claim that President Buhari’s government successfully expelled Boko Haram from the 14 local government areas. According to President Jonathan, the military received the expected military equipment within six weeks of the postponement of the presidential election of 2015, allowing them to effectively combat the terrorists and reclaim all the areas previously occupied by Boko Haram. He also mentions that Boko Haram was significantly weakened by the time he handed over power to his successor in 2015. Also President Jonathan accused some members of his government has part of Boko Haram.

As a senior citizen of our country, I strongly advise President Bola Tinubu to utilize his intelligence officials to remain vigilant and uncover any potential conspiracies aimed at escalating insecurity in our country. It is important to establish that the insurgency and insecurity were orchestrated or supported by the previous administration. Mr. President, I recognize your courage and determination, and there seems to be a deliberate attempt to test your will power and ability to restore security as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Nigeria. Your approach must be firm and unwavering, and anyone who does not align with your policies should find his way out. Nigeria is too great for any person or group of persons to manipulate. During President Buhari time, General Tukur Yusuf Buratai and his fellow service chiefs received immense support from President Muhammadu Buhari and claimed that Boko Haram would be a thing of the past within three months of the government but the reverse was the case, despite numerous accusations of disloyalty, inefficiency and lack of dedication to their country and as Nigerians demanded from their removal from office but rather they were given extension of time and more funds and finally appointed as ambassadors. Mr. President, it is essential that you adhere to the oath of office you took, which includes prioritizing the security and welfare of the people. Once again, I wish Mr. President a very happy New Year.

Thank you and God bless.

Yours sincerely,

Chief (Dr.) E.K. Clark, OFR, CON