The Niger Delta Historical Society has called on Nigerians to read a book published by Chief Ebenezer Babatope, published in 1981, entitled, “The Struggle for Power in Nigeria”, with specific reference to pages 121-to 125, entitled “The Edwin Clark Story.’’
In a press statement issued by the Secretary General of the Niger Delta Historical Society (NDHS), Comrade Conrad Tekeni Dugofa, the group expressed surprise that the book written by Babatope, a former minister of Transport and a staunch Awoist, with pages 121 to 125 focusing on the story of Chief Edwin Clark has not taught people like the former Federal Commissioner for Information during the regime of General Yakubu Gowon, Chief Clark enough lesson to keep sealed lips on peculiar subject matters in Niger Delta that do not concern him because he lacks the moral authority to pontificate on such subject matters including the current political situation in some states in the South South geo-political zone.
Quoting Babatope extensively from his book, the NDHS referenced the book as written by the author thus on pages 121-123 thus:
“Do you still remember him? Edwin Clark, the most talked about Commissioner for Information in the Gowon’s administration. He talked and talked between 1974 and 1975 that there was nothing he did not say during that period. He was the Squealer of that regime.
“He was the political propagandist par excellence of that government…For the period Edwin Clark served as Commissioner in Bendel or in Lagos, he proved a rather controversial man. It was he who opened his mouth sometime in 1971 and branded Nigerian students as being irresponsible lot…
“It was Edwin Clark who in the heat of the Udoji Crisis of 1975 had addressed a press conference on the arrests of Edwin Madunagu, Gbolaga Akintunde, Anthony Ngurube and Charles Akande….Honestly Edwin Clark is a wonderful Nigerian. I respect him for still keeping to his form.
“He is a great comedian who will make Ajax Bukana of the Ghana fame look very small in the art. It is important to point out that of all the Federal Commissioners who served the Gowon’s administration, it was only Edwin Clark that was made to dance to the drums of “vengeance” of the military men that seized power in 1975….
“The following items were seized from Edwin Clark:
(a)2, Ihama Street, Benin City
(b) 135, Warri-Sapele Road, Warri
(C) Olympia Cinema, Sapele
(d) 1, Swamp Road, Warri
( e ) Leventis Stores Super-Market, Effurun
(f) Plot 206, Victoria Island, Lagos
(g) Plaza Cinema, Lagos (Comprising 3 Properties)
(h) Roxy Cinema, Apapa
(i) Central Cinema, Ebute Metta
(j) Odem Cinema, Ebute Metta
(k) Idera Cinema, Mushin
(l) Odem Cinema, Ibadan
(m) Scale Cinema, Ibadan
(n) 3 acre developed plot at Ijora Causeway
(o) 1 acre plot at Surulere
“(p)11 acre plot at Idi-Oro
“Edwin Clark’s objections to the seizure of his assets came only about three days to the departure of Obasanjo and his men from power. In paid advertiser’s announcements, Edwin Clark made very passionate pleas to Obasanjo to return his assets. There is no proof that he ever challenged this assets seizure in a court of law.”
The Niger Delta Historical Society wondered why Chief Clark should now be pre-occupied with some political matters in the Niger Delta when he has no moral standing to pontificate as he who goes to “ equity must come with clean hands.”
