FOREMOST Ijaw leader and politician, Chief Edwin Clark, has said that Chief Obafemi Awolowo was instrumental to the rapid development of the Western states and the Yoruba nation as a whole.
Clark stated this in Abuja during the Southern.Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) meeting held to articulate the position of the assembly in the forthcoming national conference.
SNPA is made up of leaders of thought from the South-East, South-West and the South- South geopolitical zones.

Clark further stated that the agitation for national conference was not new, saying that the call had been on long before now especially from the Yorubas.
According to him, “ the demand for national conference did not start during the Jonathan government, it is an age-long demand particularly by Western Nigeria.

“But no government had the courage to listen to Nigerians particularly when they heard sovereign, they thought it was a move to overthrow their government.
“We should commend the then three regional leaders, who fought for the nation’s independence, particularly Awolowo who brought great development to the Western region, that is why they are the most educated and enlightened.”

Speaking further on the need for the dialogue, the elder statesman noted that, “Nigeria belongs to all of us. This country was made one by our colonial masters and they didn’t say either north or south should be superior or inferior to the other. There is no country in the world where some people are second class and others are first class citizens so we must sit down and discuss the basis of our unity in this country.”


http://www.tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/news/item/25727-awo-instrumental-to-development-of-western-states-clark.html

Clark further stated that the agitation for national conference was not new, saying that the call had been on long before now especially from the Yorubas.
According to him, “ the demand for national conference did not start during the Jonathan government, it is an age-long demand particularly by Western Nigeria.

Yorubas agitate through pen, paper and protest not via violence.

....:


........
Clark further stated that the agitation for national conference was not new, saying that the call had been on long before now especially from the Yorubas.

According to him, “ the demand for national conference did not start during the Jonathan government, it is an age-long demand particularly by Western Nigeria.

“We should commend the then three regional leaders, who fought for the nation’s independence, particularly Awolowo who brought great development to the Western region, that is why they are the most educated and enlightened.”

LOL.

So E. Clark, a South-Southerner for that matter, could be this vocal & even accord preferential acknowledgement for Baba Awo, even over Nnamdi Zik.

Men. THIS IS SO HILARIOUS. !!

In fact, BABA AWO, U too MUCH OOOO.

Nigeria don Expire... May be in our New country to be born we may have some1 even better than Awolowo

Ai jafafa ara aiye lo ma muni ranti ara orun


Instead of making their remarkable positive impacts so that we can continue to remember them for their Good deeds, they continue to reflect on the works and hide behind the shadow of baba obafemi...........this out going generation na serious flop....
I hope we will do better.....

St_Black:

LOL.

So E. Clark, a South-Southerner for that matter, could be this vocal & even accord preferential acknowledgement for Baba Awo, even over his own former regional leader Nnamdi Zik.

Men. THIS IS SO HILARIOUS. !!

In fact, BABA AWO, U too MUCH OOOO.

Edwin clark is from d former western ijaw,former western region, former midwest and present day delta state, what concerns Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe in his matter?

St_Black:

LOL.

So E. Clark, a South-Southerner for that matter, could be this vocal & even accord preferential acknowledgement for Baba Awo, even over his own former regional leader Nnamdi Zik.

Men. THIS IS SO HILARIOUS. !!

In fact, BABA AWO, U too MUCH OOOO.

E. K. Clark and some Ijaw people benefitted from the fresh air of Obafemi Awolowo's government in Western Region. Delta State, where he is from was part of the Western Region upto 1963. I remember he said this himself when he was celebrating his 80th birthday in OAU, Ile-Ife, with Delta State students.

Ola Johnson:
E. K. Clark and some Ijaw people benefitted from the fresh air of Obafemi Awolowo's government in Western Region. Delta State, where he is from was part of the Western Region upto 1963. I remember he said this himself when he was celebrating his 80th birthday in OAU, Ile-Ife, with Delta State students.

hahha You make me laugh, if you don't know it was the tribalistic nature of Awolowo and his Yoruba kinsmen against midwest that made them to break away from West, have You forgotten how that Oba of Benin caused Awolowo, and told him he will be a confused man politically till he die, and Awo ended up exactly that way.

10Willywilly:
hahha You make me laugh, if you don't know it was the tribalistic nature of Awolowo and his Yoruba kinsmen against midwest that made them to break away from West, have You forgotten how that Oba of Benin caused Awolowo, and told him he will be a confused man politically till he die, and Awo ended up exactly that way.

Shut up! Was any referendum conducted before Mid-Western Region was created.

Are you kidding me? According to the report, “SNPA is made up of leaders of thought from the South-East, South-West and the South- South geopolitical zones”. Is character such as Edwin Clark included among hoards of leaders of thought? I must say without equivocation that SNPA is already a failure with dumbass in Edwin Clark as a member.

One of my problems with us Southerners is that we often (Fi Ete S'ile, Pa Lapalapa) leave the major issue and digress. Instead of fighting the major enemy and liberate ourselves from this damn forced marriage we are tribalising the issue and attacking ourselves. Let's give credit to the elders, they created SNPA for a major reason irrespective of internal problems we have esp btw Yorubas and Igbos. Our goal should be the same, please don't let us repeat the mistake of 1967. God Bless Southern Nigeria (For now, we shall divide into various Republics after we must have liberated ourseleves from this damn forced marriage), God Bless Nigeria Till It DISINTEGRATES.

Ola Johnson:
E. K. Clark and some Ijaw people benefitted from the fresh air of Obafemi Awolowo's government in Western Region. Delta State, where he is from was part of the Western Region upto 1963. I remember he said this himself when he was celebrating his 80th birthday in OAU, Ile-Ife, with Delta State students.

eyeah....it was my friend that brought edwin clark to OAU then.......was there when he came......with on young lady....the guy likes women oh.......

DerideGull: Are you kidding me? According to the report, “SNPA is made up of leaders of thought from the South-East, South-West and the South- South geopolitical zones”. Is character such as Edwin Clark included among hoards of leaders of thought? I must say without equivocation that SNPA is already a failure with dumbass in Edwin Clark as a member.

Grow up.

Konmight: One of my problems with us Southerners is that we often (Fi Ete S'ile, Pa Lapalapa) leave the major issue and digress. Instead of fighting the major enemy and liberate ourselves from this damn forced marriage we are tribalising the issue and attacking ourselves. Let's give credit to the elders, they created SNPA for a major reason irrespective of internal problems we have esp btw Yorubas and Igbos. Our goal should be the same, please don't let us repeat the mistake of 1967. God Bless Southern Nigeria (For now, we shall divide into various Republics after we must have liberated ourseleves from this damn forced marriage), God Bless Nigeria Till It DISINTEGRATES.

Sorry ojare, where is this Southern Nigeria and who are they?

Ayekotoo:
Yorubas agitate through pen, paper and protest not via violence.

Have u even heard of operation wetie?

In ur drive to present your selves as better than others u end up fooling yourself

Konmight: One of my problems with us Southerners is that we often (Fi Ete S'ile, Pa Lapalapa) leave the major issue and digress. Instead of fighting the major enemy and liberate ourselves from this damn forced marriage we are tribalising the issue and attacking ourselves. Let's give credit to the elders, they created SNPA for a major reason irrespective of internal problems we have esp btw Yorubas and Igbos. Our goal should be the same, please don't let us repeat the mistake of 1967. God Bless Southern Nigeria (For now, we shall divide into various Republics after we must have liberated ourseleves from this damn forced marriage), God Bless Nigeria Till It DISINTEGRATES.

You have spoken wisely. There are three regions in Nigeria- North, West and East. If any two of these regions gang up against the third, the third will always lose. The Northerners realised this and will always have the backing of one of the other two regions in any fight. What the Southerners need to learn is that the only way the North can lose any battle is if the two Southern regions unite. But rather than unite the South, the North has succeeded in causing more division by breaking the South into SW, SE and SS. Southerners have a loong way to go!

Ayekotoo:
Yorubas agitate through pen, paper and protest not via violence.

Why did you leave yourself exposed with this comment?

E.K Clark could be growing old smh.But he talk sense sha.
Awolowo really set the ball rolling at his back yard but failed to liberate the entire south.

So,I don't recognize him

geeez: You mean its Awolowo and not our friends from that side if town

One thing I keep saying is that a people that are progressive in their mindset will always attract development

Lagos is fast growing because BRF is progressive

Ogun, Oyo and Osun are fast catching up for the same reason

God bless the Yoruba race

Geeez

You know you can extol the virtues and progress of your group without mentioning any other group?

There is no point starting a fire in a forest than can engulf all.

achi4u: E.K Clark could be growing old smh.But he talk sense sha.
Awolowo really set the ball rolling at his back yard but failed to liberate the entire south.

So,I don't recognize him

Obafemi Awolowo was the Premier of Western Region, not Southern Region (it didn't even exist). You should be asking what Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Premier of Eastern Region, and Michael Opara, that took over from him, did.

These Ibo mods moved these to ethnic section while the Enugu thread has been on Politics section for how long

The reta...rd albino should move this thread back to where it belong.

Nashville:

You have spoken wisely. There are three regions in Nigeria- North, West and East. If any two of these regions gang up against the third, the third will always lose. The Northerners realised this and will always have the backing of one of the other two regions in any fight. What the Southerners need to learn is that the only way the North can lose any battle is if the two Southern regions unite. But rather than unite the South, the North has succeeded in causing more division by breaking the South into SW, SE and SS. Southerners have a loong way to go!

Wouldn't you agree that there was a already a divide in the so called "Southern Nigeria" which predated the Northern interception anyway? Afterall we all know that there was never a unity of language or religion in the abstract south which further grounded the North's interference.

It would be interesting to see if the South of Nigeria can articulate a common ground in approaching a National Conference.
I think we al agree on resource control and a decentralization of powers from the centre.
I think we ought to be more vocal in abolishing any form of Sharia law to be supported by government

The other issue is weighting. Weight referes to he relative share of federal legislature or power to determine presidency. The arbitrary creation of states has advantage certain regions more than others and this needs to be redressed. The problem is on what basis or what "starting point". No one gives away advantage without a fight or for nothing.

Protection of the rights of minorities no matter how small. We often pay lip service to this but it is a difficult one.

Federal character versus merit arguments

Shakiratuu/Tundeolaniyi, Segun Oshogbo, tomakint, Andre Uweh:


Wouldn't you agree that there was a already a divide in the so called "Southern Nigeria" which predated the Northern interception anyway? Afterall we all know that there was never a unity of language or religion in the abstract south which further grounded the North's interference.

@Shakiratuu, you are an Ibo, right? Ibos and deceit of big magnitude? You opened this moniker today

automaticcars:


@Shakiratuu, you are an Ibo, right? Ibos and deceit of big magnitude? You opened this moniker today

Yes I am ibo from upper iweka road onisha. I am one of those destitutes that were dumped under the bridge.

A look at the core Yoruba states reveals the devt stopped at the 80s.
Everything look old fashioned and ancient.
Ppl should be talking about 2013 tnz not what happened in the 70s