Edwin Clark – Channels Television

Without Restructuring, No Meaningful Progress Will Be Achieved – Edwin Clark

Raid: Clark Accepts Police Apology, Demands Detailed Investigation (Full Statement) — A file photo of elder statesman, Edwin Clark.

Elder statesman, Edwin Clark, believes restructuring is the only way forward if there will be development in Nigeria.

Clark, who was a guest on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, believes restructuring the country will help address its challenges.

“Without restructuring, no meaningful progress will be achieved in this country,” he said in reaction to the Independence Day speech by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The elder statesman faulted the President’s address to the nation, noting that there was nothing in the speech that he had not said before.

He noted that while it was worth commending that Nigerians have continued to live together in the last 59 years, a lot of issues needed to be addressed.

Top among the issues highlighted by Clark are restructuring for a better nation and the security of the lives and properties of citizens.

Contrary to the government’s position on the war against Boko Haram insurgency, he insisted that the insurgents have not been decimated.

According to the elder statesman, there are security problems in the northern and southern parts of the country, including the activities of armed herdsmen.

“Not a single herdsman has been captured. They are moving around everywhere – both in the North and South and with the problem of insecurity in the North-West, things are not okay,” he said.

The elder statesman added, “We must put politics aside, as for the security of this country; the Federal Government cannot do it alone.

“That is why many of us are suggesting that we should have a security round-table talk. The problem in Nigeria today is not in the North alone, it’s a national problem which requires everybody to talk about it.”

He also called on the government to tackle poverty and unemployment, as well as reduce the number of out of school children in the country.

‘There Is Nothing New’ In Buhari’s Independence Day Speech – Edwin Clark

We Need A Proper Restructuring Of This Country – Edwin Clarke — A file photo of elder statesman, Edwin Clark, at his residence in Abuja.

Elder statesman, Edwin Clark, says the President has not said anything different from what he has spoken about in the past in his Independence Day speech.

He stated this on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari addressed the nation.

“There’s nothing new in Mr President’s speech. We’ve heard all these before – the increase of power, fighting corruption and corruption fighting back,” the elder statesman said.

He stressed that he expected the President to brief Nigerians on what his administration is doing to tackle the security challenges facing the country.

Clark added that the speech by the President ought to focus more on how to address the issue of unemployment and challenges in the education sector, where over 12 million children are said to be out of school.

According to him, the present administration has yet to record any meaningful progress in security and other areas since 2015.

The elder statesman said, “Insecurity in this country is preventing us to move forward and for four years now, we still have all the challenges we are having in the previous administration.

“Boko Haram, for instance, has not been decimated. Today, we have other various challenges like kidnapping which he (Buhari) mentioned in his address, raping of women, herdsmen problems.”

On the development of the Niger Delta, Clark insisted that the people of the region were being left with their problems.

He noted that the President acknowledged in his speech that there was pollution in the South-Southern region, stressing that the government must step up its efforts in addressing the issue.

“Those of us who come from the Niger Delta; we are being neglected,” he said, adding, “Pollution is going on, I’m happy he (Buhari) also mentioned the Ogoni clean-up.

“Ogoni is not the only place which is being polluted in the Niger Delta. No development in Niger Delta … but we remain patient in the interest of the peaceful co-existence of this country.”

Reps Not In Position To Order Edo Assembly Shutdown – Edwin Clark

Edwin Clark on Monday called on the House of Representative not to interfere in Edo State House of Assembly affairs noting that it is not their responsibility to order for its shut down.

The elder statesman while addressing journalists in Abuja stressed that it is not the duty of the lawmakers.

He also described as illegality the lawmakers asking the Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki to rescind his proclamation over the situation is the Assembly.

“It is not their duty.

“It is only the court that can interpret it (Governor Obaseki’s proclamation). Every governor has a way of writing its own proclamation.

“They should just allow the court. The case is already in court. So, whether what the governor has done through his proclamation is valid or not.

“It is not the duty of the House of Representatives to order the shutdown (of the House) within one week,” he said.

Clarke added that he will continue to speak when he sees things going wrong in the society. He also decried members of the House of Representatives for calling on Edo state governor to rescind his proclamation.

“Asking the governor to rescind the proclamation is irregular, it’s illegal and very uncalled for. It is creating more trouble.

“Those of us who have retired must speak out when something wrong is going on,” Clark said.

We Endorsed Atiku Because He Is The Only Candidate That Believes In Restructuring — Edwin Clark

Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark has said that leaders of the Pan-Niger Delta forum (PANDEF) endorsed Atiku Abubakar for President, because he is the only candidate that believes in restructuring Nigeria.

The former minister of information said the South-south forum agreed after due consultations that the salvation of Nigeria is in restructuring.

Clark who was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, said the South-south has been marginalized for too long.

He said, “We in the Niger Delta produce the resources that feed this country, but we are not participants. We are neglected, dehumanized, marginalized.”

“Instead of moving forward, we are moving backward.”

He insisted that restructuring is the only solution to the Nigeria’s survival and development, hence the endorsement of a candidate that believes in the same ideology.

Chief Clark said the about 17 presidential candidates were spoken to before the decision was taken, he said they were all questioned about their position on the issue of restructuring and Atiku’s take on the matter sufficed.

He noted that even President Muhammadu Buhari has been questioned on the same issue but says he (Buhari) does not believe in the idea of restructuring.

“Buhari said he does not believe in restructuring,” Clark said.

To drive home his point about the marginalization of his people, Chief Clark questioned the basis upon which certain appointments have been made across the nation.

“The NNPC is the engine room of the oil industry. Nine directors were appointed into NNPC board, six of these members are from the North, including the Chief of Staff. On what basis?”

He said the talks about restructuring has been on for long and nothing has been done about it to give the minorities a sense of pride, rather than be treated like second class citizens.

The elder statesman said that Atiku’s endorsement was a well thought out decision.

He said the PANDEF consulted with governors, traditional rulers and all stakeholders in the region, and they all agreed that restructuring is the way forward, hence, the reason they adopted a candidate who will go through with the restructuring of Nigeria.

IGP Disbands His Special Tactical Squad Over Search Of Clark’s Home

The Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, has ordered the immediate disbandment of the IGP Special Tactical Squad (IGP-STS).

Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimoh Moshood, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

“Senior officers attached to the erstwhile Special Tactical Squad (STS) who were linked with complicity or played conspiracy role(s) in the unauthorised, illegal and unprofessional misconduct in the search of elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark’s residence in Asokoro, Abuja on the 4th of September, 2018 are now undergoing strict disciplinary procedures,” the statement said.

The dissolution of the squad was with immediate effect.

According to Moshood, the tactical operations and statutory core police duties that the dissolved squad was charged with have been collapsed.

They will be carried out by other operational, investigative and response units of the Force.

The IGP also directed that all the personnel of the squad be redeployed to other departments and formations of the Force.

The disbandment of the IGP squad followed an interview and a statement by Clark who called for a full investigation into the search of his house by an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and three police inspectors.

The IGP had approved the dismissal of the inspectors while the ASP was suspended with the same punishment ‘imminent’.

Clark, however, faulted the police leadership for dismissing the three officers, saying they could not have embarked on the operation on their own.

He wondered why the officers were made “scapegoats” and alleged that the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Federal Intelligence was aware of the search of his residence.

The elder statesman asked the police authorities to admit that they made a mistake rather than saying they knew nothing about the operation.

Raid: Clark Accepts Police Apology, Demands Detailed Investigation (Full Statement)

Elder statesman, Edwin Clark, says he has accepted the apology of the Nigeria Police Force for the raid of his residence in Asokoro, Abuja.

In a statement personally signed by him on Friday, Clark thanked those who condemned the search of his home by four police officers on Tuesday.

He, however, demanded a full investigation into the incident to ensure that those involved were brought to justice.

Read Clark’s full statement below;

I have considered it necessary, at this point, to personally issue this Statement following the events which have happened in the past few days beginning with the most disturbing and embarrassing entry and search of my Abuja house by some operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.

Let me recapitulate that, on that day, that is, Tuesday, 4th September 2018, at about 12:30 pm, the Police Officers in question, from the IGP Special Tactical Squad, under the command of one Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kolo Yusuf, arrived my residence in two vehicles, one 18-seater Toyota Hiace Bus and a Toyota Hilux with registration number EU 979 ABC.

Some of them were outside the gate armed, while three of them came inside and presented to me a Warrant for Search duly issued by a Court of competent jurisdiction. As a law-abiding Citizen, a father of this Country, and a Lawyer of more than 53 years in practice, I dutifully cooperated and permitted them to carry out their official duties.

I, however, left them in no doubt of who I am and questioned if they still wanted to proceed with their official assignment of searching my entire residence for so-called stock-pile of weapons and ammunition from the Niger Delta.

The officers in question, led by ASP David Aku, diligently and painstakingly carried out their duties, for about two hours, including searching the private quarters of my wife.

I should mention that, while the search was ongoing, one of my sons, the former Federal Permanent Secretary and also former Secretary to Bayelsa State Government, Ambassador Boladei Igali, who had been with me made telephone contact with one AIG Shehu, who is in charge of Intelligence in the Nigeria Police Force.

The AIG (Intelligence) spoke with the officers but did not stop them from carrying out their duties. They, however, accorded me and all members of my family and visitors present, all due courtesies and respect.

At the end of the Search, they prepared a Report on their Findings, confirming that nothing incriminating, including weapons and ammunition, were found, and that nothing was being taken away by them. This Report we all jointly signed.

Thereafter, my staff accompanied them to their Office, to obtain a copy of the Report, after they had reported to one of their principal, by name DSP Ibrahim Agu, who confirmed that the operation was official.

In the evening of the same day, the high command led by DIG Joshak Habilla, including the AIG (Legal), the FCT Police Commissioner, and two other Commissioners of Police, met with me at about 10 pm, and conveyed the apologies of the Inspector-General of Police.

They explained further that the matter would be fully investigated and appropriate action taken against all who were involved in the incidence which they described as unfortunate.

Against this backdrop, I will like to state as follows:

1. My profound gratitude to all, from far and wide, both national and international over the great show of empathy since the news came to the public domain;

2. As a father of the nation, now at the age of nearly 92 years, state that I have accepted the apology from the Police authorities, which has now been made public as I demanded;

3. State that, for the upholding of justice and fairness, the young Officers who came to my residence, must not be made scapegoats. Merely sacking the officers concerned, when they were indeed carrying out official instructions, is not enough, if we are to avert such occurrences in future.

4. The incident, must, therefore, be fully investigated and all those involved brought to book. In this respect, it is important to ascertain if a mere Report by a Taxi driver was enough to act on, how was the Warrant of search obtained from the Court same day? Why did the very senior Police Officer, whose attention was called, unable to stop the action while it was ongoing?

5. Call on all my good friends around the country, especially the youths of the Niger Delta, many of whom have expressed their great displeasure, to maintain calm, and allow the authorities to get to the bottom of the matter.

Thank you and God bless Nigeria.

Chief (Dr) E. K. Clark, OFR, CON

Raid: Clark Condemns Officers’ Dismissal, Says They Were Made ‘Scapegoats’

Elder statesman, Edwin Clark, on Friday faulted the police leadership for dismissing the three inspectors who raided his home.

The Ijaw leader believes the officers led by an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who has also been suspended, could not have embarked on the operation without the knowledge of the police authorities.

“Why make these boys (the police officers) scapegoats?” Clark questioned when he received Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State at his residence in Abuja.

“For someone to say that they didn’t know, these boys were on their own and, therefore, they should be dismissed; Why deceive Nigerians? If you made a mistake, say you’ve made a mistake,” Clark said.

Clark Accepts Police Apology, Demands Detailed Investigation (Full Statement)

The elder statesman claimed that the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Federal Intelligence instructed the search of his home.

He wondered why the police authorities that should know the masterminds and conspirators of the invasion went after the four junior officers, whom he said were merely carrying out instructions from their superiors.

Police ‘Must Come Clean’ On Raid On Clark’s Residence – Oshiomhole

Clark explained, “While they were here doing the search, Ambassador (Boladei) Igali was here. He phoned an AIG in charge of Intelligence and the man said he wanted to speak to the boys (the policemen).

“He did, and one would have expected that if these boys were on their own he could have asked them to go back, but after that, they went on.”

The Ijaw leader stressed that no one should pretend or deceive Nigerians. He insisted that the police officers who came to his house to carry out the raid did not do it on their own.

He said it was wrong to give the impression that the Force leadership was not aware of the search, adding that the officers could not have gone to the court on their own to secure a search warrant and raid his house the same day.

On Tuesday, the ASP led the three inspectors to raid Clark’s residence in Asokoro, an action which sparked a widespread criticism across the country.

Hours later, the police said they were unaware of the search and described the raid as an “illegal and unauthorised” operation, while a team of top police officers visited the elder statesman to apologise to him.

The three inspectors were later dismissed and the ASP suspended, while the informant involved was charged to a court for giving false information and telling falsehood that misled police action.

Police Dismiss Three Inspectors Involved In Raid Of Clark’s Home

The police have dismissed the three inspectors involved in the search of the home of elder statesman, Edwin Clark.

The Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, approved the dismissal of the officers from the force, Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimoh Moshood, said in a statement on Thursday.

Mr Moshood explained that the inspectors – Godwin Musa, Sada Abubakar and Yabo Paul – were dismissed after they were tried under ‘Oath in Orderly Room Trial’ for discreditable conduct, illegal duty, disobedience to lawful order and “other misconduct contrary to the rule of law”.

Disciplinary action was also taken against the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), David Dominic, who the Force said led the search of Clark’s residence in Asokoro, Abuja.

Mr Moshood said Dominic was queried and is being investigated “for discreditable conduct, negligence of duty and an act unbecoming of a police officer which constitute serious misconduct.

The police said if such conduct is not checked, it can be inimical to the image of the Nigeria Police Force, adding that the raid was capable of violating “the human rights of the elder statesman as provided for in the 1999 Nigeria Constitution as amended”.

Although Dominic was not dismissed along with the inspectors, Mr Moshood did not rule out that possibility.

“The gravity of the offences against the officer is serious in nature and dismissal from service is imminent,” he said.

“Consequently, the Inspector General of Police approved that AP. No 158460 ASP David Dominic, be on interdiction from Service pending the determination of his case by the Police Service Commission.”

He also disclosed that the informant, Ismail Yakubu, has been charged to a court in the Federal Capital Territory, for giving false information and telling falsehood that misled police action.

Police Parade Informant, Reveal Officers Involved In Raid Of Clark’s Home

Police Reveal Informant, Officers Involved In Raid Of Clark’s Home — Edwin Clark

The police have paraded a man suspected to be the informant in the search of the home of elder statesmen, Edwin Clark, in Abuja.

Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimoh Moshood, paraded the suspect identified as Ismail Yakubu on Wednesday at the Police Headquarters in the nation’s capital.

Moshood said Yakubu is from Waru village in the Apo district of the Federal Capital Territory.

He also revealed the names of the four police personnel allegedly involved in the raid of Clark’s residence in Asokoro on Tuesday.

They are David Dominic, who is alleged to have led the team in the search, as well as Godwin Musa, Sada Abubakar and Yabo Paul.

The police spokesman disclosed that Dominic has been queried while the three others were undergoing orderly trial for the appropriate punishment to be meted out on them.

Edwin Clark Threatens Legal Action Over Home Raid

He also said Yakubu would be arraigned in court for giving false information and telling a falsehood to mislead police action.

He explained that the police receive information from members of the public on daily basis and were promptly used to prevent and detect crimes and criminalities in the country.

Moshood, however, warned that “the Force will not condone misconducts by any of its personnel that can run contrary to the rule of law.”

“The police, therefore, has the statutory rights to execute a duly obtained search warrant in any premises where it has actionable intelligence or information that incriminating items or exhibits used to commit crime or about to be used for criminality with the aims of recovering them to prevent the commission of such crime or to detect the crime that have been committed,” he added in a statement.

The Force spokesman insisted that any officer who was to carry out the execution of a search warrant must follow the laid down procedures within the law.

IGP Orders Detention Of Police Officers For Raiding Edwin Clark’s House

He warned that an officer would be made to face the consequences of violating the rule of law, where such procedures were not followed.

Four police officers allegedly from the IGP’s Special Tactical Squad had stormed Clark’s residence in Asokoro, Abuja with a warrant to search for weapons.

But elder statesman condemned the incident which he said was an embarrassment and threatened to take legal action against the force.

Moshood had said that the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, was not aware and did not order the raid.

The police, thereafter, sent a delegation of top officers to visit Clark and apologise for the incident.

Top Police Officers Visit Edwin Clark, Apologise For Raid

Raid: Top Police Officers Visit Edwin Clark, Tender IGP’s Apology — File photo: Edwin Clarke

The Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, has apologised to Edwin Clark over the search conducted at his residence in Abuja by some police personnel.

The apology was tendered on behalf of the IGP and the Force by a delegation of top police officers who visited the elder statesman on Tuesday.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimoh Moshood, confirmed this in a statement, saying the police delegation was led by a Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Habila Joshak.

Mr Moshood added that the delegation was received by Clark and the apology was accepted by him.

He insisted that the police boss was not aware of and did not authorise the search of the elder statesman.

The Force spokesman disclosed that the IGP has ordered the parade of the informant in the case before he was charged to court.

IGP Orders Detention Of Police Officers For Raiding Edwin Clark’s House

A team of police officers allegedly from the IGP’s Special Tactical Squad had stormed Clark’s residence in Asokoro, Abuja with a warrant to search for weapons.

The elder statesman, in his reaction, described the incident as an embarrassment and threatened to take legal action over the raid.

Read the statement below;

IGP sends a high powered delegation of a DIG and other Senior Police Officers to apologise to the elder statesman

Further to the earlier Press Statement from the Nigeria Police Force on the directives of the Inspector General of Police for immediate detention and Investigation of the four (4) police personnel (including a senior police officer) and an informant involved in the unauthorised, illegal and unprofessional misconduct in the Search of Chief Edwin Clark’s Residence in Asokoro, Abuja, today 4th September, 2018.

The IGP as stated in the Press Statement was not aware and did not authorise the search and has, therefore, sent a delegation of senior police officers, led by DIG Habila Joshak (DIG DOPs) along with some Commissioners of Police who visited the elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, and apologised on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force and the IGP for the misconducts of the said police personnel and the attendant embarrassment the search has caused on the elder statesman and his family.

The delegation was received by Chief Edwin Clark and the apology was accepted by him.

Furthermore, while the four (4) police personnel are in detention and being investigated and tried within the Force Disciplinary Procedures before appropriate punishments are meted out to them, the IGP has directed the immediate parade of the informant (suspect) on Wednesday 5th September, 2018 in the presence of the press and the public, before his prompt arraignment and prosecution in court.

IGP Orders Detention Of Police Officers For Raiding Edwin Clark’s House

IGP Orders Additional Deployment Of Police Personnel In North East — IGP Ibrahim Idris

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has reacted to the raid of the Abuja residence of elder statesman Edwin Clark, ordering the arrest of the police officers involved.

The IGP in a statement signed on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, said he is not aware of the raid of Clark’s residence.

According to the statement, the IGP has therefore ordered the detention of the police officers involved in the raid.

“The Force wishes to categorically state that, the Inspector General of Police is not aware and did not order the raid of the residence of the Elder Statesman, Chief Edwin Clark as claimed.

“Consequently, the Inspector General of Police has directed the detention and investigation of the four personnel and the informant involved.

“The outcome of the investigation will definitely be made public,” the statement read in part.

He added that the Nigeria Police Force will not condone misconduct by any of its personnel that can run contrary to the rule of law.

Elder statesman, Edwin Clark earlier today threatened to take legal action over the raid of his home by policemen.

The police officers on Tuesday stormed his residence in Abuja, with a warrant to search for weapons.

Police Raid Edwin Clark’s Residence In Abuja

The Police on Tuesday raided the Abuja residence of elder statesman, Edwin Clark.

The officers stormed his residence at about 12:30 pm in two police vans in search of weapons.

However, no weapons were found at the end of their search.

Clark described the raid as embarrassing, adding that he will take the matter up legally.

Tag: Edwin Clark

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We Endorsed Atiku Because He Is The Only Candidate That Believes In Restructuring — Edwin Clark

IGP Disbands His Special Tactical Squad Over Search Of Clark’s Home

Raid: Clark Accepts Police Apology, Demands Detailed Investigation (Full Statement)

Raid: Clark Condemns Officers’ Dismissal, Says They Were Made ‘Scapegoats’

Police Dismiss Three Inspectors Involved In Raid Of Clark’s Home

Police Parade Informant, Reveal Officers Involved In Raid Of Clark’s Home

Top Police Officers Visit Edwin Clark, Apologise For Raid

IGP Orders Detention Of Police Officers For Raiding Edwin Clark’s House

Police Raid Edwin Clark’s Residence In Abuja

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