Former Federal Commissioner for Information, Edwin Clark on Thursday stated that lack of trust is one of the major factors working against the unity of the country.
The elder statesman made the disclosure at his residence in the Asokoro, Abuja during the celebration of his 96th birthday anniversary.
The Ijaw leader told his guests that he stopped celebrating his birthday anniversaries when schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State were kidnapped in 2014.
“I will always speak of what I know in defense of Nigeria. We cannot be one country by words of mouth. We must love and trust ourselves. It is lack of trust that is breaking Nigeria today, Nigeria is divided but we must speak our minds. I am a Nigerian, but I won’t keep quiet when Nigerians are suffering. If Nigeria does not stand properly, there will be no unity, there will be no peace.”
“I have worked for Nigeria for over 70 years, from the age of 25 or thereabout. I have served this country in various capacities. I must have offended many people, but I will always speak on any issue concerning Nigeria.
“I am not celebrating. I stopped celebrating my birthdays since the Chibok school girls were abducted in Borno State. It was very painful. Today, I am not celebrating, I am thanking God. I am not celebrating because I lost two younger brothers in the past. On October 13, 2020, I lost my younger brother, Prof John Pepper-Clark. In July last year, I lost my brother, Ambassador Blessing Clark who was Nigerian Permanent Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs. So, I no longer celebrate my birthdays,” he said.
Clark also used the opportunity to unveil his memoirs titled, “Brutally Frank”. He said that he is ready to face litigations because of “What I wrote in this book.”
“This is a book, my memoirs that I have written. It contains everything and I titled it, ‘Brutally Frank.” I know some people would like to take me to court but I am waiting for them. I have spoken the truth and you can’t kill truth. The foreword to the book was written by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon.