In a move that has sparked outrage, former Nigeria Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been accused of exploiting a condolences visit to the family of the late Niger Delta leader, Chief Edwin Clark, for political gain. During the visit, Atiku, according to the Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN), reportedly used Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, as a platform to advance his own agenda—a tactic that has been widely denounced as a blatant act of disrespect towards the deceased and his grieving family.
According to a statement issued by Michael Briggs, National Coordinator of the TAN, the visit, intended as a moment of reflection and unity, was transformed into a political charade. TAN’s statement contends that El-Rufai used the occasion to launch a tirade extolling Atiku’s purported contributions to economic policymaking during the Obasanjo administration—a claim that, according to critics, is both misleading and ill-timed.
“Chief Edwin Clark was a titan of the Niger Delta who dedicated his life to fighting for justice and the marginalised,” the statement read. “It is a grave betrayal of his legacy when politicians exploit such solemn moments for their own gain.” TAN’s statement further criticised the conduct of both Atiku and El-Rufai, asserting that their actions reflect a profound moral failing and a disregard for the sanctity of mourning.
The statement also drew attention to the broader implications of such behaviour, arguing that the incident is indicative of a deeper malaise within Nigeria’s political class—a class that increasingly appears willing to sacrifice dignity and respect in the relentless pursuit of power. The group called on Nigerians to condemn the actions of the two politicians and demand accountability, emphasising that no political ambition should come at the expense of honouring a national hero.
In closing, the statement quoted Chinua Achebe: “A man who cannot tell where the rain began to beat him cannot know where he dried his body,” suggesting that Atiku and El-Rufai have exposed the origins of their own moral shortcomings. TAN urged all well-meaning Nigerians to unite in rejecting such opportunistic exploitation and to preserve the legacy of Chief Edwin Clark as a beacon of justice, equity, and national development.
