Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association Lagos branch, last week gathered in Lagos to pay tributes to one of its members, the late Professor J.P. Clark. Clark, an artistic icon and academic, passed on last month. Edozie Udeze was there
The moment was apt. Important dignitaries came from far and near. Those who could not come joined on zoom. The venue was Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos. And the occasion was in honour of Late Professor John Pepper Clark Bekederemo who passed on last month. The programme was titled an Evening of Tributes for JP Clark, where different personalities poured encomiums on a revered scholar. The event was organized by Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association, Lagos branch.
The evening of tributes began on a sound note. With the President of the Lagos branch of the association, Sam Omatseye opening the floods of tributes with his opening remarks, the moment instantly became charged. JP Clark was a renowned scholar, playwright, dramatist, poet, novelist, essayist, name it. He lived for the art; he loved his profession to the extent that authorship took him to the highest pinnacle of scholarship.
Omatseye began thus: “J P Clark was a man who was a master of the art. This is why we are here to celebrate him, to see the caliber of the artist we are here to honour and celebrate. Through his works also you encounter the quality of the person he was. So, there is nothing absolutely too much when we are celebrating him. Indeed he was an extraordinary person, extraordinary in his character, in his poems, in his conversation. Even in death he is still extraordinary.
Omatseye made reference to his numerous body of works and said, “As an essayist, he was exceptional. In his poems, he showed class, also as a dramatist. And he was a man of many parts, a man who has left behind works not just for this generation but the ones coming next”.
For Tunji Sotimirin of the University of Lagos, who is a colleague of JP Clark, it is just good to remember a rare dramatist who always vouched for perfection. Referring to his earlier career days when J.P. mentored him, Sotimirin said, “I grew up with him and his family. He nurtured me, he influenced my art in many ways. At a time, he offered me the rare opportunity to show my first play on stage. At that moment, it was a golden opportunity for me too to be so highly honoured. His wife Professor Ebun Clark taught me how to speak well”. As Sotimirin spoke, he also performed a one-man act for which he well known. It was an Ijaw dance song which also attracted applause from the audience.
Emma Clark, his daughter who could not hold back her tears on the podium spoke about a father who was misunderstood by a few. “It is difficult to lose my father”, she began, her voice quivering with sorrow. “His loving nature was unquantifiable. He was indeed a loving dad. He loved us so much that he could at any time sacrifice his personal comfort for our good. For me, and my mum, he made us strong women, never to lose our strength. Yes, it was in his nature to often display his strong character. This also got on our nerves, but he could as well bend a little to ensure we were satisfied”.
In all these, J.P Clark showed his genius character. Even at Government College Ughelli, he began early to manifest his rare nature and breed. He was a committed sports personality who did not relent in his avowed interest in being strong physically and mentally.
In his tribute earlier published in The Nation, which he also made reference to, Omatseye reiterated the fact that JP Clark is rare breed of artist. Titled JP Clark: Unfinished Poet, he said, there were a few but poignant moments of unfinished business with the poet, John Pepper Clark when he died recently at 85. It pertained to our dialogue over a poser on Facebook about Nigerian classic poems. Writer and columnist Mike Awoyinfa wanted Nigerians to pick what gems still whispered to us. JP Clark led the polls with such offerings as Abiku, Ibadan, and Night Rain…”
Obviously one of Omatseye’s favourite authors, he went on: “The other unfinished business was his fascination with my series of poems on Leah Sharibu… Just when he was about to read them, he lost his younger brother who was a general…” There were other unfinished businesses between these two poets, two Old Boys of G.C.U, who were obviously fond of each other. Yet, he never failed to remind the Old Boys that, “As we read and stage JP Clark, he will remain before our eyes. It is not his remains we shall contemplate because he remains”.
The tribute by Professor Wole Soyinka, JP Clark’s longtime associate at the University of Ibadan and beyond, titled Song of a Goat Pepper-soup for JP, sounded very much like their old days at school. Soyinka brought out the true JP Clark. He said: “tempestuous, querulous, petulant, unpredictable… yet I’ve also heard him called ejaaro, that fish which always thrashes back to its turbid depths – and so on and on. All these may hold in parts but, of course, there is that contributory side of JP Clark that is closed to many: unresolved mix of a deep poetic sensibility with an intense political discontent, frustrations from a nation that constantly short-changes itself”.
There were other encomiums from Roy Idoko, Frank Longe, James Efekodo, Professor Olu Akinyanju, Titus Okereke, Oghenoro Charles Mojoroh, Charles Unwensuyi Edosomwan (SAN), and more, all of whom are Old Boys of the school at different times and periods.
Some members of JP Clark family were in attendance, including his wife, Professor Ebun Clark, son and daughter. Also present were publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Sam Amuka Pemu, former governor of Delta State Chief James Ibori, Maiden Ibru, Professor Hope Eghagha and many Old Boys of G.C.U.
JP Clark was born in 1933 in Delta State, had his early education at home. His secondary education was at the G.C.U and tertiary education at the University of Ibadan. Until his death, he was a Professor Emeritus of the University of Lagos where he taught Theatre and Drama for many years.
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