Elder statesman and former Minister Information Chief Edwin Clark has commended former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon rtd, on his intervention in the sanction placed on Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, by the Economic Community of West African States.
Gowon in a letter written to Gowon, expressed hope that Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger return to the ECOWAS, following the intervention of the former Head of State, which led to the lifting of some sanctions against the three African countries.
Clark in the letter made available to the newsmen, titled, “I Salute Your Courage In Speaking Out On ECOWAS Sanctions,” hailed the former Head of States’ courage in settling the matter.
It would be recalled that the three African countries were placed on ban by the ECOWAS, following the military coup de’tat in the countries.
However, Gowon’s intervention led to the lifting of some sanctions imposed by ECOWAS on Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali and Guinea, in response to an unconstitutional change of government in the countries.
The countries had on January 28, 2024, announced the withdrawal of their ECOWAS membership, alleging the regional body had come under foreign influence and became a threat to member-states.
Clark in his reaction, however, commended Gowon, for courageously calling on ECOWAS Heads of State to lift sanctions on some of its erring members, saying it displayed a high sense of responsibility, which can only come from a revered elder statesman.
Clark said, “I do hope that your intervention will now make it possible to arrive at an amicable resolution within the body, and the three countries will now rescind their earlier decisions to leave. Please be assured of my unflinching loyalty and friendship.”
Having served as minister during Gowon’s administration, Clark recalled how the former head of state played a pivotal role in forming the regional body.
“I am not surprised knowing the personal efforts that you put in towards the formation of the body on 28th May 1975. With great efforts and charisma, you personally engaged all the region and brought everyone under one roof. Against language barriers and political prejudices against one another, especially as quite a handful were military officers; you led faithfully in uniting all into one community.
“I recall with pride the privilege you afforded to me travelling, in Nigerian military aircraft, to various countries including Senegal, Gambia, Burkina Faso and Mauritania, as your Commissioner of Information (Minister) and Special Envoy to canvas your colleagues to attend the Summit which held in Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Each President or Head of State who attended the Summit which took place at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos was assigned the Federal Commissioner (Minister) to look after the President or Head of State who attended the Summit at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Brig. Gen. Murtala Mohammed, who was the Federal Commissioner for Communication was assigned to the radical Head of State, Guinea Bissau’s President, Amilcar Cabral. I was assigned to President Dawda Jawara of Gambia, and the Summit was very successful,” Clark said.
The former Minister also congratulated President Bola Tinubu and ECOWAS leaders for heeding Gowon’s counsel leading to the lifting of most of the sanctions, following the summit, which was held last Saturday.
