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Nigerians should
strive to put the nation first rather than their sectional interest,
President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday when he received former
Minister of Information and Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, who visited the
State House with associates.

Mr Jonathan used
the occasion to extol the values of nationalism and cohesion that Mr
Clark has promoted over the years, and described the him as a
de-tribalized man who has friends and contacts in all parts of the
country. A former Inspector General of Police, M.D Yusuf thanked Mr
Jonathan for the reception, noting that while Mr Clark’s comments could
sometimes be hard pills to swallow, they do not detract from his sense
of devotion to national integration. A former PDP chairman, Solomon
Lar, also described Mr Clark as a bridge-builder who believes in one
Nigeria and puts the nation first in all he does. He commended Mr
Jonathan for his tradition of hosting elder-statesmen who have
contributed to nation-building, saying the gesture should be emulated
by future leaders.

More eulogies

Former chairman of
the Board of Trustees of Peoples’ Democratic Party, Tony Anenih, also
extolled the virtues of Mr Clark, whom he described as a man of his
words. He also called on Nigerians to always speak against oppression
and stand for the truth at all times; something he said Mr Clark has
always done. A former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, described Mr
Clark as one of the fathers of the nation who abhors injustice and who
always speaks up no matter whose ox is gored.

Mr Clark thanked the president for receiving him and his associates
in spite of his tight schedule, noting that Mr Jonathan’s assumption of
office is the handiwork of God and the Nigerian people. Others who were
present include Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo; Delta State
Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday
Orubebe; former Chief of General Staff, Mike Akhigbe; former Deputy
Speaker, House of Reps, Chibudom Nwuche; and Mr Yusuf. Others include
former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; Chukwuemeka
Ezeife, Frederick Faseun, Doyin Okupe, Ledum Mitee, and John Fashanu.