Elder Statesman and Leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Chief Edwin Clark, has criticized the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, asserting that it set Nigeria back by five decades during his eight years in office. Clark expressed his views in response to the launch of a book titled “Working with Buhari: Reflections of A Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023)” written by Buhari’s former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
In a statement dated Thursday, January 18, 2024, Clark faulted the former president for highlighting his achievements during the book launch, stating that Buhari’s eulogizing contradicted the majority of Nigerians’ assessment of his tenure.
Clark’s statement read, “To most of us as Nigerians, Muhammadu Buhari failed abysmally as President. His administration was full of insecurity, economic collapse, injustice, religious bigotry, and lack of direction. The eight years of his administration plunged Nigeria and Nigerians five decades backward.”
He further referenced a 12-page statement he had written on the eve of Buhari’s exit from office on May 28, 2023, where he highlighted unfulfilled promises, a divided nation, and critical federal infrastructural projects in a state of disrepair, particularly in the Niger Delta region.
Clark characterized Buhari’s eight-year tenure as unjust, biased, and nepotistic, terming it a period of complete and total retrogression for the country. The elder statesman’s critique reflects a perspective on the former president’s administration that contrasts with the narrative presented in the book and challenges the legacy attributed to Buhari’s time in office.