A northern youth group, Arewa Citizens Action For Change has taken on south south political leader Chief Edwin Clark over his recent comments berating Northern leaders ,particularly Northern governors.Clark has been vociferous in urging northern leaders to rein in terrorists just as he has been spearheading the campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 reelection bid.Northern governors led by Muazu Babangida of Niger state have categorically said they would work towards a single northern candidate come 2015 .
But the northern youth group has joined the fray by accusing Clark of being unstatesmanlike in his comments..”We consider old man Clarke’s meddlesomeness in the internal concerns of other sections of the country as unstatesmanlike as it is irritating thereby denying Clarke any further respect either earned by virtue of age or through interactions with other elders” the youth group said
“Having lost every claim to the respect that would have ordinarily accrued to him automatically, Clarke is hereby cautioned to mind the tunes he uses on other sections’ cultural and political leadership.
“ We also wish to remind Clarke pointblank that Nigeria is too big and too important to be mortgaged in the hands of novice leaders backed by sectional warlords.
“ We find it difficult to understand what Clarke considers wrong with any section of the country working out its political game plan for the future. While we caution Clarke and his fellow Ijaw separatists to mind the myriad worries in their part of the country and allow other leaders mind theirs, we urge the northern political leadership not to be distracted by the antics of these divisive elements.
“We assure northern elders, governors, political, cultural and religious leaderships we the organized northern youth are solidly behind them. And for the avoidance of doubt, Chief Clarke should know that the youth of the north are prepared to go any length to defend and support any decision reached by the regions elders and its governors.
Read the text of the youth group’s press conference emailed to Newsdiaryonline on Thursday in Abuja
AREWA CITIZENS ACTION FOR CHANGE PRESS CONFERENCE HELD ON THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012 IN ABUJA ADDRESSING THE UNGUARDED UTTERANCES OF SOUTH-SOUTH ELDERS
Gentlemen of the Press,
Good morning
Disturbed by the recent unguarded and obviously provocative remarks by leader of the South-South Elders Forum, Chief Edwin Clarke on matters that are purely the internal concern of the northern region and its people, we address this press conference to declare the open support of the organized northern youth for our elders, governors, political, cultural and religious leaders.
1. From the onset, we categorically wish to announce our unshakable solidarity with and support with the position articulated by the Northern Governors Forum under Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu Governor of Niger State on the need for the political leadership of the region to present a unified front in its continued struggle to reclaim its right to the presidency after having conceded it to the present president from Chief Clarke’s zone
2. We find it as unfortunate as it is provocative for Mr. Clarke to arrogate to himself the power and privilege to attack our leaders at the slightest opportunity even on matters that clearly do not call for such interference.
3. We consider old man Clarke’s meddlesomeness in the internal concerns of other sections of the country as unstatesmanlike as it is irritating thereby denying Clarke any further respect either earned by virtue of age or through interactions with other elders.
4. Having lost every claim to the respect that would have ordinarily accrued to him automatically, Clarke is hereby cautioned to mind the tunes he uses on other sections’ cultural and political leadership.
5. We also wish to remind Clarke pointblank that Nigeria is too big and too important to be mortgaged in the hands of novice leaders backed by sectional warlords.
6. We find it difficult to understand what Clarke considers wrong with any section of the country working out its political game plan for the future.
7. While we caution Clarke and his fellow Ijaw separatists to mind the myriad worries in their part of the country and allow other leaders mind theirs, we urge the northern political leadership not to be distracted by the antics of these divisive elements.
8. We assure northern elders, governors, political, cultural and religious leaderships we the organized northern youth are solidly behind them.
9. And for the avoidance of doubt, Chief Clarke should know that the youth of
the north are prepared to go any length to defend and support any decision reached by the regions elders and its governors.
10. And that our position in this regard is non-negotiable.
THANK YOU
SIGNED
Barrister Abubakar Kurawa
Chairman,
Arewa Citizens Action for Change,
Malam Sani Darma,
Secretary
Nastura Ashir Shariff,
National Coordinator
