I Have Played My Part..Now Ready To Die..Edwin Clark

As he turns 87 years today, elder statesman and leader of the Ijaw nation, Chief Edwin Clark said he would not be marking his birthday with any celebration, but rather said he has played his part and ready to depart in joy and peace.

In a statement he signed to mark his birthday, which was released to newsmen, Clark said, “I believe that I have played my part, ready to depart in joy and peace. Hence, I have repeatedly proclaimed it loudly at given occasions that as a mortal being I am now like one at a departure lounge awaiting the call to meet my creator.

“I have always prayed that that call would come when my generation had contributed its utmost best to improving the world it met. I have come to this position believing that I have played my part, ready to depart contentedly”, he said.

The elder statesman who also explained why he would not be celebrating his 87th birthday said there were too many issues tearing the country apart to warrant any form of celebration.

According to him, “This year 2014, I have no desire nor the intention for any form of celebration not even a church thanksgiving to mark the day. Indeed the country and entire humanity, are now held in the tight grip of a series of heart-rending security breaches and man’s grisly inhumanity to man, that, surely forecloses any such plan for celebration, nor even the thought of it.

“Right now, Nigeria is in the eye of the whole world. From the United Nations to all countries and groups which stand for human decency and dignity, notably, the President of the United States of America, Mr. Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, leaders from Europe to Asia and Africa, even Afghanistan, and the now world-famous Miss Malala of Pakistan, who survived the mindless and satanic world view of Al Quada and its ilk, all joining with hundreds of our pain-stricken parents and well-meaning Nigerians in calling for the release of our daughters by Boko Haram. Hence the reason for this notification”.

According to Clark, “Today the most terrible problem haunting the state is the heartless war of terrorism and insurgency being visited on us by the Boko Haram sect in the name of religion and ‘no to western education.’ As a leader who had witnessed the promises of independence and the present abyss we find ourselves, I cannot celebrate when Nigerians are killed and made homeless, and over 200 school girls kidnapped at Chibok, the mood of the nation is grief.

“This is wicked, barbaric and inhuman because no religion encourages killings or destruction in the name of God. The founding fathers of our nation, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo understood the importance of God given freedom to humanity. Hence at independence, Nigeria became a secular state, a free state where every citizen is free to practice any religion of his choice without molestation, where citizens are not superior to one another and entitled to have good education— our various constitutions from independence to date recognise this.