13 hours ago
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A condolence visit by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to the family of late Edwin Clark has sparked outrage across Nigeria.
The visit, intended to pay respects to the late Niger Delta leader, was marred by El-Rufai’s praise of Atiku’s alleged achievements, which many see as a brazen act of disrespect to the deceased and his grieving family.
Chief Edwin Clark, a renowned advocate for justice and equity, passed away on Wednesday, leaving behind a legacy of selfless service to Nigeria. However, Atiku and El-Rufai’s actions have been condemned as a shameless political charade, exploiting the sacred moment for their own gain.
El-Rufai’s comments, in particular, have been criticized for being insensitive and self-serving. “Nobody gives Atiku Abubakar the credit for economic policy making under the Obasanjo administration…but people focus on the negatives,” he said, sparking widespread outrage.
Reacting to the development, the Transparency And Accountability Network (TAN) denounced Atiku and El-Rufai’s actions, calling them a “betrayal of the trust the Nigerian people place in their leaders” and a “blatant disregard for the sanctity of human life and memory.”
TAN National Coordinator, Comrade Michael Briggs, urged Nigerians to join in condemning the shameful behavior and demanding accountability from those who seek to lead the country. “A nation that does not honour its heroes in death is a nation that has lost its soul,” he said.
According to Comrade Briggs, in a move that reeks of moral bankruptcy, Atiku and El-Rufai chose to exploit this sacred moment for their own political gain.
He said: “We, as a group, condemn this despicable act in the strongest possible terms. It is a betrayal of the trust the Nigerian people place in their leaders and a blatant disregard for the sanctity of human life and memory. We call on all well-meaning Nigerians to join us in denouncing this shameful behavior and to demand accountability from those who seek to lead us. A nation that does not honour its heroes in death is a nation that has lost its soul, and we cannot allow such a travesty to go uncondemned.
“To Atiku and El-Rufai, we say this: Your actions have exposed the emptiness of your rhetoric and the hollowness of your promises. Chief Edwin Clark was a man who fought for justice and equity, values that you have clearly abandoned in your pursuit of power. Your behavior is a stain on the fabric of our nation, and history will judge you harshly for this disgraceful episode.
“To the Clark family, we extend our deepest condolences and our genuine support. Chief Edwin Clark’s legacy will endure, not because of the actions of self-serving politicians, but because of the countless lives he touched and the indelible footprint he left on our nation. Let us honour his memory by standing together against those who seek to exploit our grief for their own gain.
“In the words of the great Chinua Achebe, ‘A man who cannot tell where the rain began to beat him cannot know where he dried his body.’ Atiku and El-Rufai have shown us where the rain began to beat them, in their moral failings and their disregard for the sanctity of human dignity. It is now up to us, the Nigerian people, to ensure that they do not escape the storm they have brought upon themselves. Let us rise as one to condemn this act and to demand better from those who aspire to lead us. Anything less would be a betrayal of the legacy of Chief Edwin Clark and the values he held dear.”
English (US) ·