Foremost leader of the Ijaw ethnic group, Chief Edwin Clark has called on the Federal Government to end neglect of the group.
He said that the Ijaw ethnic group would be grateful for a form of appreciation in the New Year.
Clark, a former Federal Commissioner for Information, made this known when a delegation led by Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson paid him a New Year courtesy visit in his home in Kiagbodo, Delta State.
He said, “This New Year will touch the heart of the Federal Government that the Ijaw people have been neglected for too long.
“Something has to be done for them. We want actual appreciation; something has to be done for us.”
The elder statesman also commended Dickson for being the voice of the Ijaw nation, and called on God’s protection on him to continue guide him.
He noted, “You are the man who speaks for us. We are very proud of you. God will continue to guide you. Those who want to cause trouble will be taken care of by God. I listened to the governor in 2017 when he was declaring an emergency in education and I was waiting to see what that meant. Recently, he invited me to Bayelsa to see what he has done. He invited General Gowon and his wife. And what I saw in the field of education, if I don’t say it publicly, I will be doing harm to myself.
“Gowon told me at the airport that he had not seen any school like that. Apart from the building, the students know what they are doing. I was very proud of them, and the governor said that the students are drawn from all Ijaw communities with the head girl coming from Arogbo in Ondo State.”
Responding, Dickson said he led the delegation to Kiagbodo on a Christmas and New Year visit to the elder stateman and other top Ijaw leaders in the country, among others, to consult the Ijaw leader on issues of urgent importance to the Ijaw nation.