Edwin Clark in the eye of the storm

For many, the old wise man from Kiagbodo, Pa Edwin Clark, seemed to have survived many political battles.
With the emergence of President Yardua and Dr.Goodluck Jonathan, he seemed to have floated in luxurious waters, playing the role of a Godfather of sorts.
He had variously described both Jonathan and Yar’dua as his sons not biological though.
He was elated that in his own life time, an Izon son had become a vice President of Nigeria and when subsequently on the demise of Yardua and GoodluckJonathan was catapulted into the highest office in the land, Pa Clark became an immediate ‘King maker.’ Pa Clark was powerful, influential and became richer than many political appointees.
Pa Edwin had been acknowledged as a prominent Izon leader.
The enigma about him is that he seems fearless and could speak his mind any day and time.
However, with end of the 2015 Presidential elections when his political son, Dr. GoodluckEbele Jonathan lost to President Buhari of the APC, Pa Clark like most seasoned politicians, jumped boat and pledged his support to Buhari.
It was at this point many supporters of Jonathan felt that Clark had become a turncoat.
Can we justifiable blame him for singing a new song and try to remain relevant?
In the absence of any viable alternative to reaching the people in the Izon at home and in the diaspora, Clark was compelled to chest out to want to broker peace with the Niger Delta Avengers and MEND operatives.
While many rejoiced at the change of mind of Avenger to hold talks with the Federal government, MEND came along to denounce the Clarkian contraption of trying to assert himself as the ‘De Facto’ leader of the Izon Nation.
In a front-page screamer, headline MEND stated in the INDEPENDENT newspaper August 22, which says ‘IGNORE CLARK, MEND TELLS FG.’
MEND has called on Buhari to ignore leader, Chief Edwin Clark and other leaders of the region for failing to condemn the criminal activities of Niger Delta Avengers. In a statement, the spokesman of the MEND, GbomoJomo, said Chief Clark no longer has the moral right to persuade the people to tow the path of peace.
As far as MEND goes what happened in Warri at the PTI was a ruse and told the Federal government to hold his peace moves with the Avengers.
The situation on ground seems slightly complicated.
It is now a multi- faceted struggle for relevance by the various groups, Avengers, AdakaBoro sympathisers and MEND.
The ball is now in the court of Pa Clark who should have access to all the groups. Clark can still stoop to conquer.
For all practical purposes, all militants seem to be working for the beatification of the Niger Delta environments.
I want to call on Pa Clark to harmonise his peace shooting efforts with the MEND, the original freedom fighters. Pa Clark, the ball is in your court. Uneasy really lies the head that wears the crown.
For our gallant militants who had shown to the whole world that they are capable of destroying pipelines we have more words for them.
I salute their courage and resilience. Now my plea is not to throw the baby with the bathwater.
If they do not like the face of Pa Clark, they must create a Clark look alike that can speak to power fearlessly despite all the problems of collective visitation by the Buhari government on who to arrest or detain under the cover of anti- corruption drive.
Even if, most people are tired of the Clarkian enigma we should defer to him as the only surviving grand old wise man whose gift to the Izon race had blessed him with abundant courage and fearlessness.
If we disagree with PA CLARK of the sudden turn around from Jonathan to Buhari, do we sincerely believe we can ask our fathers, to replace him?
Every ethnic group has his own endowed leaders like the Jews or the Hebrew people were sent a Moses by God to lead them out of Eqypt
With the multiplicity of militant groups, it has become impossible for the federal government to listen and do our bidding.
Let Pa Clark be, and forgive him for all previous imperfections. Let us respect him for his tireless efforts at wanting to reconcile all the militant groups.

Let us end this sad chapter of our collective history of unrelieved militancy.
Through either Pa Clark or MEND on AdakaBoro Avengers or Niger Delta Avengers, we are on the same page to make peace for our children and grand- children. AaaanIzonEgberi FAO.