Former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, alongside former Head of State and a former President, Yakubu Gowon and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, attended the Memorial Lecture/Day of Tribute in honour of Chief Edwin Clark, OFR, CON, on Wednesday 7 May, 2025.
The 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) said, “It was a huge gathering that E.K. Clark deserves for his exceptional, courageous and selfless service to our fatherland”, adding, “that ‘the Labour of our Heroes past’ are now in vain given the enormity of destruction in the country”.
Obi said, he “asked some very vital rhetorical and reflective questions, like what has suddenly happened to the protesting voices in this country, where are those who, in 2012/13, protested vigorously when increases in fuel, exchange rate, food and transport prices were moderate and manageable under President Jonathan”, adding, “Where are those who called President Jonathan all sorts of names, “Clueless, corrupt, ineffective and lifeless government”? Where are they now that the Prices of everything have increased tenfold?”
Making more remark, Obi said, “Nigeria must confront itself with hard but necessary questions: Are we truly honouring the legacy of great patriots like Chief Edwin Clark? Or have we abandoned the values they stood for, justice, equity, service, and a united Nigeria?”
Obi (X/@PeterObi) said, “Yesterday, I had the honour of attending the Memorial Lecture/Day of Tribute in honour of Chief Edwin Clark, OFR, CON, alongside other eminent Nigerians—including a former Head of State and a former President, Yakubu Gowon and Goodluck Jonathan @GEJonathan, respectively, as well as other distinguished national leaders.
“It was a huge gathering that E.K. Clark deserves for his exceptional, courageous and selfless service to our fatherland. In my remarks at the memorial lecture, I reiterated that ‘the Labour of our Heroes past’ are now in vain given the enormity of destruction in the country. I asked some very vital rhetorical and reflective questions, like what has suddenly happened to the protesting voices in this country, where are those who, in 2012/13, protested vigorously when increases in fuel, exchange rate, food and transport prices were moderate and manageable under President Jonathan.
“Where are those who called President Jonathan all sorts of names, “Clueless, corrupt, ineffective and lifeless government”? Where are they now that the Prices of everything have increased tenfold? I also tried reminding those who argue that I de-marketed Nigeria by telling the truth about its economic and social status vis-à-vis the rest of the World that truth does not in any way demarket a nation. Rather, it refines and strengthens it. But the moment we begin to weaponize the truth for political convenience, we dishonour the legacy of those who came before us. We betray the very essence of their sacrifices, their struggles, their hopes, and their dreams.
“Nigeria must confront itself with hard but necessary questions: Are we truly honouring the legacy of great patriots like Chief Edwin Clark? Or have we abandoned the values they stood for, justice, equity, service, and a united Nigeria? Our present reality is troubling: elections that do not reflect the will of the people; public institutions increasingly manipulated for private interests; and the deepening scourge of corruption and impunity. We are also losing innocent lives daily through insecurity, poverty, poor healthcare, and avoidable hardship.
“This is not the Nigeria our founding heroes envisioned.We must not reduce their sacrifices to mere ceremonial tributes. The best way to honour Chief Edwin Clark and others like him is to restore integrity in governance, rebuild trust in our public institutions, and ensure that truth and justice are the foundations of our national journey. Nigeria must work for all Nigerians, not just for a privileged few.
“A new Nigeria is POssible.”
Photo: Goodluck Ebele Jonathan | Peter Obi | Yakubu Gowon at the Memorial Lecture/Day of Tribute in honour of Chief Edwin Clark, OFR, CON. X/@PeterObi
