'Daura's Statement Completely Irresponsible - Edwin Clark

Elder Statesman and Leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Edwin Clark, in a recent interview said that Mamman Daura's inexperience in politics doesn't "make it enough for him to make irresponsible statements that could jeopardise the unity" of Nigeria.

In an interview, Daura had stated that the country needed to make competence a key to holding public office in the country and not zoning as is the norm.

In response to that statement, Clark, who appeared on Democracy Today, a show on AIT, rejected the idea, as it is a pathway to a "chaotic situation."

He said, "I’m not surprised at the principle statement by Mamman Daura. He has no political background; he hasn’t held any office in this country; he doesn’t belong to any political party, so he has not got any political experience.

“The main fact that he is permanently a resident in Aso Rock as adviser to his uncle is not enough for him to make irresponsible statements that could jeopardise the unity of this country.

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“To jettison zoning is looking for chaotic situation in this country and there will be no one Nigeria, united Nigeria because no one will be a slave to the others.

“I met him (Daura) for the first time in my life, now he has a privilege of residing permanently in Aso Rock, being the leader of the cabal, being the man who is advising. What is he advising?

“No one prevents him from being a nephew to his uncle, Muhammadu Buhari, from advising him on family matters. He has no right to stay permanently without any official appointment in Aso Rock and thereby having the privilege of enjoying the government activities.

“Now he doesn’t want rotation to continue. Let me say this: nobody is a fool; who’s fooling who in this country?

“Every region in this country has people with reputation, capable, intelligent and are today wasting away because some people what to be the overlord of this country.

“So, if we want to have a united Nigeria and practise true democracy, there must be a rotation of the presidency between the north and south.

“Who are they now to say that they are rejecting rotation in the favour of competence? Are they more competent than any other Nigerian in one place?

“The solution is that when Buhari leaves, let the rotation go to the south as recommended by the national conference. We must have a united Nigeria based on equality, otherwise there will be no Nigeria.”