ECOWAS: Clark Writes Gowon, Hopes Countries Will Return To Fold

Elder statesman and former Minister Information Chief Edwin Clark has expressed hope of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger’s return to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), following the intervention of former Head of State Gen Yakubu Gowon which led to the lifting of some sanctions against them.

Clark said this in a letter he wrote to the former head of state, commending him for helping to amicably resolve the impasse. The letter made available to our reporter was titled, “I Salute Your Courage In Speaking Out On ECOWAS Sanctions.”

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 three countries, 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.

But in his letter, Clark commended Gowon, for courageously calling on ECOWAS Heads of States 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. 

He said, “I do hope that this your intervention will now make it possible to arrive at 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,” Clark said in his letter. 

Clark, who served as minister during  Gowon’s administration, recalled how the former head of state played a pivotal role in forming the regional body. 

He said, “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 regional 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 aircrafts, 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 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.