FORMER Federal Commissioner for Information and South South, Chief Edwin Clark has described the Niger Delta region as the most oppressed people in the country.

According to him, with the level of marginalization and dehumanization of the zone, despite the role they play in sustaining Nigeria as a country, a time will soon come when the people will take their destiny in their own hands.

Clark said that there cannot be unity in the country where some see themselves as superior to others. Speaking Tuesday night in his Asokoro residence when he received the newly inaugurated Senator representing Bayelsa West, former governor Seriake Dickson, Elder Statesman regretted that despite producing the resources, in order to make use of them, the Ijaw people have to seek permission from others.

The Ijaw leader who wondered what kind of country runs like that, however expressed delight that the former Bayelsa governor was elected as a senator and will be an authentic voice of the Ijaws in the Senate. Clark said, “We are an oppressed people, I have always said that we will soon take our destiny in our own hands.

“People do not appreciate what we are doing for Nigeria, what we are providing for Nigeria. They control our resources in our backyard, they manage it and at the end of it, they benefit from it and now make us second class citizens in our country. They use our very money to control us. “What type of country to do we belong to? We produce all the resources in this country and for me to benefit from it, I have to travel to Daura in Katsina State to ask for approval for me to benefit from what is being produced in my backyard. And if I am lucky they will give it to me with some conditions. “So, I am happy that you have been elected.

As I said when you were coming, I said I’m still mourning, I don’t want to talk about politics yet. But politics is in my vein, I cannot see my Senator being inaugurated and for him to come and see me without saying that this is what you are going to do in that place. Time will come after my mourning period, I will speak. “This country we are is a country for all Nigerians. No one owns it more than the other. We are equal citizens in Nigeria.

“Unity does not mean you must be superior to the other. Then you won’t have a country. So, you have a duty to perform.” Speaking on the election of Dickson, the Ijaw leader who noted that he supported the former governor for the position because of his qualities, said, “You have all the qualities to become a senator.

I have been one before, I was a senator in the second republic and I was a very important one for that matter. I was a member of a select committee which was the most important one in the senate, we were responsible for appointing members of the various committees.