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By Abdullahi Kano
A northern group, under the aegis of Northern Compatriots in Southern Nigeria (NOCOMSON) have lambasted an elder statesman, Edwin Clerk, over a comment credited to him that he criticized the proposed naval base by Nigerian Naval Board in Kano state.
The group, after its extraordinary meeting, held in Kano yesterday, said Clerk allegedly mocked President Muhammadu Buhari and Chief of Naval Staff over the proposed project.
I’m a statement released after the meeting, NOCOMSON described the purported comments by Clerk as divisive.
In the statement, signed by Comrade Musbahu Saleh, Regional Coordinator, South South NOCOMSON said belief that Nigerians have the right to air their opinions on serious discussions of such magnitude that may lead to nation-building, we condemn Edwin Clark’s divisive comment, as such privilege should not be abused and turned into a forum for hate speech and/or inciting comments.
According to the group, even at that, NOCOMSON would not allow regional jingoists, who hide behind the cloak of statesmanship, to do our only nation, Nigeria, a fatal blow through unguided utterances.
“Our attention has been drawn to a divisive comment attributed to Chief Edwin Clerk after the Nigerian Naval Board approved a Naval Base in Kano.
“In an open letter on Monday, September 20, Chief Edwin Clerk openly attacked President Muahammadu Buhari and the Chief of Naval Staff; and mocked the people of Kano State.
‘When it is our collective belief that Nigerians have the right to air their opinions on serious discussions of such magnitude that may lead to nation-building, we condemn Edwin Clark’s divisive comment, as such privilege should not be abused and turned into a forum for hate speech and/or inciting comments,” part of the statement reads.
The statement continued “part of our submission is that Clerk is unacquainted with the requisites of Naval Bases, how they are being operated in advanced countries in the world and/or he is not aware that the Navy approved that Naval Bases be established in some states to which Kano State falls.
“But Clerk singled out Kano State for his scathing attack, which we believe is yet another failed attempt at distracting the Navy from its concerted effort to keep Nigeria “as one indivisible nation” and to sabotage the Buhari Administration’s efforts in containing the insecurity ravaging the country at various fronts.
“Even at that we will allow regional jingoists, who hide behind the cloak of statesmanship, to do our only nation, Nigeria, a fatal blow through unguided utterances.
“While we urged the Federal Government to remain focused, commend the Navy highest authority for this timely response to augment its operation; we urge Nigerians to listen to ‘voice of reason’ and disregard such divisive comments as they will not augur well for the country,”
Based on this, the group said it urged Nigerians to not give a breathing space to opportunists like Clark whose only stock in trade is to capitalize on the nation’s travail for material gains.
“It is instructive to note that, even the Chief of Naval Staff, through the Chief of Training and Operations of the Navy, Rear Admiral Abraham Adaji, explained to all the critics, particularly Chief Clark, in an elementary way, since they could not understand the basic information about Kano Naval Base, that,
“The Nigerian Navy is heavily involved in the anti insurgency, anti terrorism and also internal security operations across the North.
In the North East where we have Joint Task Force, the Navy has over 170 personnel that are fighting alongside the Army and the Airforce to combat the threats that we face.
Equally in the North West where we have the Joint Task Force, the Navy has over 250 persons that are fighting the counter banditry and all other issues of insecurity there.”
The group therefore calling on Edwin Clark and the like to know that, it is not only in Kano, that Navy is present, where there is no water, as defined by Clark.
