Prominent Ijaw leader, Sir Edwin Clark has called on northern governors to identify and make peace with Boko Haram militants so that the Federal Government will reconcile with them.The octogenarian said this at an event organised by Ijaw Leadership Forum today at the International Conference Center in Abuja to celebrate President Goodluck Jonathan's one year in office.Clark recalled that he and the then vice president went in to the creeks at the heights of Niger Delta militancy to appease the militants.He added that it '...will cool; this happens in every country. Nigeria is a big country. You don't expect everybody to be the same. In his own area, we had this type of thing before; the militants; the young men who went into the creeks; we went into the creeks to appeal to them. I even went with Mr. Vice President to Oporoza, Camp 5 to persuade them and when they agreed, President Yar'adua granted amnesty to them.''We do hope that the 19 northern governors of the north will also go to their various states, identify these boys, ...they have their grievances..., make peace with them. By then the Federal Government will recognise them and make peace with them.'Watch Edwin Clark here talking about Nigeria's unity:http://www.youtube.com/watch'v=x-mUnrnhScs&feature=youtu.beNigeria must remain unitedChief Edwin said people should stop talking about 2015 as the President has three more years to spend. He called for friendship among Nigerian youths for national integration.'All that I can say,' said chief Clark, 'let's be peaceful. Let's not talk about 2015. We have three more years to go. When he performs, then we talk about 2015. Let me answer some people, few of them who are very ambitious, who want to disturb, who want to confuse, let us face the constitution straight. We have spoken about what the constitution said. Let the matter remain there. Give the President the next three years for him to rule this country and his cabinet.''We are one country. And let these children know that they belong to one country with our children. And I promise that very soon the occasion will arise when all of them will meet with our own youths. Nigeria belongs to all us, to no one else. We have no other home to go to. If Nigeria breaks, refugees in Nigeria will flood all the countries in West Africa. So, we must remain together. No one knows the end if we are to break. Yugoslavia broke in to six states. They never thought of it. Czechoslovakia did the same, six states. Some of the states are 1.5 million people. Soviet Union broke in to 25 states. We don't want it in Nigeria. We want to live together as brothers and sisters. I am appealing to all Nigerians that Mr President has spoken today on Democracy Day. Please be patient with him. Please support him. He is your own son.'Speaking at the occasion, Professor Jerry Gana said the minorities within the country are better off with a united Nigeria; hence they should work toward keeping the country one.He praised Goodluck Jonathan's administration, urging it not to be distracted by the opposition and critics.Other personalities that attended the event include Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Justice Karibe White, FCT minister Senator Bala Muhammad, traditional rulers among others.
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