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Tag: Edwin Clark

  • Edwin Clark

    Edwin Clark

    •Nationalist, technocrat, community leader

    Many will agree that, at 97, Edwin Clark lived a full life. He was a nationalist, technocrat, ethnic leader, regional virtuoso, teacher, lawmaker, community leader and, sometimes, an agitator.  It is understandable that when he took his last breath, everyone knew a major figure in Nigerian history had departed.

    Before he died, he had a resonant voice for the restructuring of Nigeria and for the south-south region from where he hailed. He believed the region should enjoy its fair share of Nigerian power and wealth, especially since that region

    is the proverbial goose that has laid the golden eggs for the nation’s dinner table for most of its life.

    Not many agree with his style, though, or even the integrity of his voice since it

    was often tainted with partisan brio.

    For instance, when he was an unofficial adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, he was domiciled in the president’s bias and defended the bumbling of the nation’s leader and was believed to have benefited from access to the president. His voice for restructuring was more than a little muted when critics thought his principal was falling short of that goal. He did not say much about the failings of the president in retooling the economy as well.

    But once President Jonathan was out of office, he regained his hubris as fighter for justice, and he became the moving force for the establishment of the Pan Niger Delta Forum. The body has, however, been invaluable in trumpeting the demands of the region and nudging the rest of the country in responding to the agonies of his people.

    He sometimes has also been seen for good and for ill as an Ijaw leader, a role he took on more forcefully as during this republic. But at the tail end of the military era, he was a major player during the Ijaw-Itsekiri conflagration that took toll on both sides and has crippled many communities, including Warri. Warri is yet to recover from the depredations of those years. But Clark was seen as stoking the war rather than serving as arbiter.

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    Yet, for most of his career, he had served his country with energy and devotion right from the pre-independence years. He was first a teacher after he had graduated from the Government Teacher Training College, which has now transformed into the Delta State University, Abraka.

    He moved to the United Kingdom to study law at Holborn College, and there his verve began as a political animal as a member of the West African Students Union. But back home, his first stint was as a council member in Bomadi under the aegis of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons.

    His quest for federal system began in the aftermath of the 1966 coup when the nation searched for a working formula, and Clark was part of the Midwest Region’s delegation that rejected confederation.

    As a technocrat, he served both at the Midwest level as well as at the centre. Between 1966 and 1975, he was the commissioner for education during which the Midwest College of Technology was set up. It formed the seed bed of the University of Benin. He later served as the commissioner for finance for the Midwest State. He was later to serve as commissioner for education under the federal military government under Yakubu Gowon.

    He joined the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the Second Republic, and served as a member of the National Executive Council and state treasurer in the then Bendel State. He became a lawmaker as senator in a tenure that was short-lived by a military coup.

    He revamped his interest in education in his hoary years when he founded his own tertiary institution, the Edwin Clark University.

    He will, therefore, be remembered as an Aristotelian man of affairs.

  • UPDATED: Senate honours Edwin Clark

    UPDATED: Senate honours Edwin Clark

    …urges FG to name a befitting monument in his honour

    The Senate on Wednesday observed a minute silence in honour of late former Federal Commissioner of Information, Chief Edwin Kaigbodo Clark, who passed on three days ago.

    The Senate also urged the federal government to name a befitting monument in the country to immortalise Clark.

    The red chamber also resolved to send a delegation to commiserate with the family of the deceased, government and people of Delta state and to participate in the burial ceremonies for the late Ijaw national leader.

    The resolutions of the Senate followed its consideration and approval of a motion titled: “The Demise of Senator (Chief) Edwin K. Clark, OFR, CON (25th May, 1927 – 17th February, 2025)” sponsored by Senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas (APC – Delta South) during plenary.

    The motion was co-sponsored by all Senators from the Niger Delta region including, Senate President Godswill Akpabio (Akwa-Ibom North-West), Senators Ned Nwoko (Delta North), Ede Dafinone (Delta Central), Banigo Ipalibo Harry (Rivers West), Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East), Barinada Mpigi, (Rivers South East), Bassey Etim (Akwa-Ibom North-East) and Sampson Ekong (Akwa-Ibom South).

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    Others are Senator Seriake Dickson, (Bayelsa West), Agadaga Benson Sunday (Bayelsa East), Benson Konbowei, (Bayelsa Central), Jarigbe Jarigbe (Cross River North), Williams Jonah (Cross River Central) Ekpenyong Asuquo (Cross River South), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) and Neda Imasuen (Edo South).

    Senator Onowakpo-Thomas in his lead debate, said the Senate has noted with shock, the death of Pa Edwin Clark on the 17th February, 2025, after a brief illness at the age 97 years.

    He said after completing further studies at the Government Teacher Training College, which later became Delta State University, Abraka, Clark worked briefly as a school teacher before travelling to the United Kingdom to earn a law degree;

    He added: “Aware that his involvement in the political process began during the Pre-Independence period when he was elected as Councillor for Bomadi in 1953.

    “Clark later joined National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC). While a student at Holborn College, he was active in the West African Students’ Union;

    “Aware also that after the military coup of January, 1966, Clark was among a group of delegates from the Mid-West who opposed any ideas of confederation that were raised at an ad-hoc constitutional conference set up by Gowon in 1966.

    “The delegation’s mandate was Nigerian unity and when proposals of a loose federation were tabled, the region’s delegates asked for adjournment;

    “Further aware that he was later appointed Midwestern Commissioner of Education and later, Finance from 1966 to 1975.

    “As commissioner for education, he was active in the establishment of a Mid-west College of Technology that became the foundation of the University of Benin;

    Recalls that during the Second Republic, he was a member of the National Executive Committee of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and was the treasurer of the party in Bendel State (now, in part, Delta State and previously the Mid-Western Region province).

    “In 1983, he was an elected senator from 1979 – 1983;

    Also recalls that in 2016, Clark founded the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) along with other leaders.

    “The Organization’s stated objective is to dialogue with stakeholders and lobby for increased attention and implementation of restructuring, development and security policies by the Government of Nigeria;

    “Notes that he was an Ijaw leader and politician from Delta State who worked with the administrations of the military governor Samuel Ogbemudia and Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon between 1966 and 1975.

    “In 1966, he was a member of an advisory committee to the military governor of the Mid-Western Region province, David Ejoor and was appointed Federal Commissioner of Information in 1975;

    “Informed that beginning in 1996, Clark was a self-described leader of the ljaw nation. He supported the Ijaw ethnic group in Delta State during an ethnic crisis in Warri and led Ijaw leadership delegations to meet political leaders;

    “Convinced that Pa. Edwin Clark was a nationalist, renowned Lawyer, seasoned administrator, philanthropist, and an astute advocate for the rights of the Niger Delta who founded the Edwin Clark Foundation and established a University of Technology in his hometown; and

    “Observes that he was a loving father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was an amazing man who contributed immensely to his immediate community, ljaw nation and the country in general.”

    Senator Ede Dafinone (APC- Delta Central) in his contribution said Clark was more than a statesman to him, “He was family. He was a friend to my father.”

    He described him a loyal and consistent, saying, “His voice resonated through the halls of power.

    “He was bold and tenacious. He was never afraid to speak truth to power. He always spoke with principle over convenience.”

    There was drama when the Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Monguno raised a point of order and drew the attention of the Senate to the fact that Dafinone was reading his tribute from a prepared text which is against relevant rules of the red chamber.

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio sustained the point of order and urged Dafinone to summarize his contribution in 30 seconds.

    Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP – Bayelsa West) said he was thankful for the gift a man of Clark calibre.

    “Clark’s life is an open book read over and over, examined and re-examined by his admirers. His achievements are very well known. He did not go on leave and he did not retired through out his adult life. Here is a man who tranversed the entire gamut of National Service.

    “The Secondary school I attended in Bayelsa was built by Clark as commissioner of Education serving under military Governor Osaigbovo Ogbemudia. I am a beneficiary of the foresight and dedication to duty by this great man.

    “He was not a self styled ijaw leader he was an acclaimed national leader of the ijaw nation. He gave the entirety of his adult life for the betterment of Nigeria.

    “He fought to enthrone justice and inclusion. He has left Nigeria for us to continue to build.”

    Former governor of Kebbi State, Senator Mohammed Adamu Aliero (APC – Kebbi Central) noted that Clark was an acknowledged leader of the entire Niger Delta Region.

    “He was a bridge builder. He fought for his people and for the unity of this country.

    “He would be remembered for what he stood for which is the unity and progress of this country,” Aliero said.

    Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP – Bauchi Central) noted that Clark was not about Niger Delta alone.

    “If you are a minority in Nigeria, Clark inspires you, if you are a minority in a state, Clark inspires you and if you are a minority in a local government or ward, Clark inspires you.

    “Every time he speaks he speaks for the marginalized.

    Few days ago we lost Pa Adebanjo. I begin to think what Nigeria will be like without people like them.”

    He urged the Senate President, Akpabio, with his pedigree to step up and be a nationalist to fill the vacuum now vacated by Clark and Adebanjo

    Akpabio in response, said he had been observing Ningi meeting with various and senior interest groups in preparation for 2027, saying amid laughter: “We are waiting for you in 2027.”

    The Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Abba Moro and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe also eulogized Clark.

    Moro said: “We lost him when his wise counsel was most needed. History will be kind to him to say that Clark was one of the founders of modern Nigeria. He was a bridge builder. He was a stickler for justice, fairness and equity.

    His name will feature prominently when history is written.”

    Abaribe (APGA – Abia South) said: “He fought for the under privileged and marginalized and those who have be done badly by the country called Nigeria.

    “It is not enough to say he was a fighter for a better Nigeria while he was alive, we that are alive need to imbibe those qualities we now eulogise about him.”

    Akpabio said: “He was a colossus. I had the luck of making Pa Clark very happy when I completed a 26 year old edifice proposed as OMPADEC’s headquarters which was abandoned. He was excited about development.

    “I also constructed a 10 kilometer concentric roads around his abode.”

  • Clark: Ijaw leader bows out

    Clark: Ijaw leader bows out

    Five days after Afenifere Acting Leader Ayo Adebanjo died, his compatriot, Ijaw Leader Chief Edwin Clark passed on yesterday. Deputy Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the life and times of the PANDEF and Southsouth icon, and his contributions to socio-economic and political development.

    He was brutally frank. He was a bold,  brave and fearless fighter, and a crusader for social justice for minority ethnic groups. Although he also had roots in Itsekiri, Urhobo and Isoko, he was better known as Ijaw Leader. But, since the scope of his struggles was beyond that tribe, he was adopted as the Southsouth leader, held in esteem for his relentless crusade, even by the people of the Middlebelt.

    As he grew older, his pastime was the struggle for true federalism, restructuring and resource control. Like the fading tribe of old warhorses, he believed in unity in diversity; a voluntary union of incompatible ethnic groups co-existing on agreed terms of equity, fairness and justice, without fear of marginalisation, domination, systematic exclusion and oppression.

    The aspiration, which has remained a tall order, may have been a particular regret for Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, who passed on yesterday at 97.

    He departed, barely five days after one of his compatriots, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, bade the struggle farewell in Lagos.

    Clark was a pillar of support for numerous Southern politicians, who were on the same page with him. He was the unofficial chief adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan. He was one of the pillars for the military administration of Bendel State Governor Sam Ogbemudia. He was a delegate to the constitutional conferences in post-independence era. He was a trusted leader.

    Clark was a father-figure to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who is also an Ijaw, although opinion is divided on his position on the protracted crisis in the oil-rich state. Although he had a national stature,  his interventions in the last three decades cast him in the mould of an ethnic or regional champion, who had to defend the rights of deprived coastal areas, the goose that lays the golden eggs.

    As a philantropist, Clark established a foundation to cater for the less privileged. At the twilight of life, he worked hard to set up a university, which is his greatest legacy in education and national development.

    The deceased nationalist rose to limelight through the dint of hardwork, diligence, dedication and commitment to the goals of life. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, being a descendant of a prosperous Bekederemo, a wealthy trader of the colonial era, whose wealthy status brought him into conflict with the legendary Dore Numa, also an acclaimed Niger Delta businessman.

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    Yet, Clark was never a laid back. From the onset, he  strove to have the best of education, which gave him the durable key to a secured future. Thus, when he became a politician and public officer, his antecedents as a teacher, lawyerand activist were not disputed. It is a lesson to the youths that in all their political pursuits in contemporary society where the slogan of generational shift is rife, they should strive to have a second address.

    For Clark, like his compatriots, including those who have gone before him and those at the departure lounge awaiting the boarding pass, politics was never an occupation of economic and social value, but a vocation and avenue for creative and productive service to the country. However, it should be acknowledged that involvement in politics and call to service could ultimately contribute to the enhancement of socio-economic status.

    Clark was born in Kiagbodo, Delta State.He attended primary and secondary schools at Effurun, Okrika and Afugbene. He also attended the Government Teacher Training College, which later became Delta State University, Abraka. Clark worked briefly as a school teacher before travelling abroad. The eminent poet, the late Prof. J. P. Clark, was his younger brother.

    As a law student in the London School of Economics and Political Science, Clark came briefly under the teaching of Ben Nwabueze (SAN), who was already a Graduate Assistant. At a media engagement at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, preparatory to the 2014 Abuja National Conference, Prof. Nwabueze reflected on that brief teacher/student interaction, referring to the Ijaw leader as my junior and my former student, in a dismissive manner.

    When it was the turn of Clark to speak, he frowned at the allusion to his school days, saying that Nwabueze was only six months older than him, despite his advantage of early university education. Both were icons.

    However, Clark shone in politics and public life like a star. His involvement in the political process began during the pre-independence period when he was elected as Councillor for Bomadi in 1953. He later joined the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC). While a student at Holborn College, he was active in the West African Students’ Union.

    After the military coup of January 1966, Clark was among the delegates from the Mid-West who opposed the idea of confederation raised at an ad-hoc constitutional conference set up by the former Military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon. The delegation insisted on Nigerian unity and when proposals of a loose federation were tabled, Clark and other delegates from the region asked for adjournment.

    Clark was also a member of the Advisory Committee set up by military Governor David Ejoor in the Midwest State. He also served as Commissioner for Education and later, Finance, in the Ogbemudia government. As commissioner for education, he was active in the establishment of the Midwest College of Technology that became the foundation of the University of Benin.

    He also served as Federal Commissioner for Information in the Gowon Administration. In the Second Republic, he represented Bendel South in the Senate for three months on the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN). In that brief period, he was not a bench warmer in the National Assembly.

    As from nineties, Clark changed the gear of agitations. He was from the oil-producing region that had suffered in silence. He decried the lopsided federal structure, which made the producers to feed the lame consumers under the guise of collective ownership of what became the natural resources tapped from a region that lacked the claim to equitable share.

    In calling for a true federal principle, he opined that each region must have comparative advantage over the other in the production of natural resources to promote healthy competition that leads to collective production of collective resources in a workable federation. In a piece in honour of Clark at 86, Godwin Ogbetuo, Prince Abugo and Ethel Igboeche noted that the elderstatesman frowned at a situation whereby every state and local government in Nigeria are dependent on the oil wealth for survival without sparing a thought for the multiple effects of oil production in the neglected oil-producing communities.

    Clark had carried the debate on the unjust distribution of national wealth to the 2004  constitutional conference. As the leader of the Southsouth, he wanted to mobilise the region to boycott the conference due to the insensitivity of other regions to the plight of the Niger Delta. He was a rallying point to a region that felt short-changed, aggrieved and abandoned.

    Clark warned the Federal Government about the danger of utter neglect, saying:”We may enter an era when the youths may no longer accept the voice of reasoning provided by elders, when they may no longer listen to us because our admonitions are not producing results, and with their agitations, getting violent may soon enter the driving seat.”

    His prediction came to reality. It was said that some Niger Delta youths went to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and for the first time, saw a different environment, a far cry from their pauperised enclave. They were told that the money used for that development came from their zone. They returned home in anger and the region slided into an era of militancy.

    Clark never supported violence. He decried the bombardment of the Gbaramatu Kingdom by those looking for militants, the killings of innocent people, destruction of homes, the increasing oil pollution and environmental denigration.

    His interventions in Delta politics were positive. But, they were also controversial. He had protested the primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007, saying that it was manipulated. He stormed Aso Villa, Abuja, to complain to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, demanding for the disqualification of the candidate, Emmanuel Uduaghan. However, it was futile.

    In Rivers, he berated politicians for creating chaos in post-Peter Odili era, warning that the cultist groups they were breeding would hunt them. He was not afraid of any physical attack. He called for a state of emergency. When the clash of cultist groups, which he alleged was sponsored by government officials,did not abate, Clark led a delegation to former President Umaru Yar’Adua in Abuja. He told the former leader that political leaders were fuelling the crisis.

    Yar’Adua, who wanted to authenticate his claims, demanded their documentation. The former president said:” You have made very grave allegations. Put the allegations in writing and we will investigate them. I assure you that our interest is for peace and stability of the Niger Delta. We need peace to achieve rapid development of tge region. If it is clearly established that anyone is a party to causing the crisis,he will be dealt with according to the law. We will act on whatever comes out of a thorough and just investigation.”

    Clark inisted on the allegation. He told reporters that politicians were behind the hullabaloo. He said:  “Rivers State is infected by cults. There are over 103 cult groups in the state, and who are the leaders,financiers and the patrons of these cult groups? They are politicians, both in government  and outside the government”

    Clark protested the demolition of the water fronts in Port-Harcourt,  saying that the people, who were victims, had been there before 1912, when Port-Harcourt was not yet founded. He alleged an attempted cultural genocide, which he said, was similar to the scenarios in Somalia, Yugoslavia. “This was thd cause of the first and second world wars,” he fumed.

    Clark will be remembered for being a bridge to Southeast/Southsouth unity and understanding, particularly after the civil war. The invasion of the Midwest, many believed, was orchestrated by Midwest Igbos. Thus, relations between other tribes and Igbo became soured in the region. There were mistrust and mutual suspicion.

    However, Clark convened a unity meeting at Uromi, now Edo State, on November 4, 1969. The move restored peace in the Midwest.

    After the war, Clark played a major role in the tasks of reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation carried out by Ogbemudia on the directive of Gowon. As commissioner, he employed many displaced teachers from Eastcentral State in Midwest public schools. His objective was to cushion their suffering.

    To create a bond of friendship, he exployed the school as an agent of social change. Clark selected 100 Midwest students to visist the war ravaged East, so that they could understand their pains and their deprivation as a result of the avoidable civil war. He also arranged for the transfer of female students of Midwest origin to the Queens College.

    But, Clark’s greatest contribution was what he prescribed as the solution to the national question. He was on collision course with Obasanjo over restructuring. Clark told the former president to keep quiet over his condemnation of the calls for restructuring.

    He said: “The ex-president knows the truth and should say it. If he does not believe in restructuring, was it (the conference) only for his third term or concern for restructuring of Nigeria?  That is a question Obasanjo should be asked to answer.”

    In Clark’s view, Nigeria should go back to “the kind of government we had before and after independence until the soldiers struck,” a regional structure where every region was independent in whatever they did.

    Clark added:.“What we are saying is that we want  devolution of power, where every region had its own constitution, even the Midwest region was created based on the demand for restructuring.

    “No one held the other down, which was why Western Nigeria government did things that other government did not do and others were not envious of it because everybody had his own government.

    “Nigeria is running a unitary government, a situation where every state first goes to the federal government for money. That is not federalism.

    “We want restructuring to correct the defects in the current structure of the country. For instance, Kano has 47 local governments, but contributes nothing to the revenue of the country, while Bayelsa, which contributes a lot has only eight local governments. I think these are anomalies that should be corrected.”

  • Tributes rain for Edwin Kiagbodo Clark (1928-2025 )

    Tributes rain for Edwin Kiagbodo Clark (1928-2025 )

    Nicholas Kalu, Abuja; Elo Edremoda, Warri; Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta and Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led a torrent of tributes for Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark, who died yesterday.

    The former Federal Commissioner (minister) for Information and revered leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) was 96.

    Clark’s death was announced in a statement by his brother Prof. C. C. Clark for the family and and son Mr. Penawei Clark for the children.

    The statement reads: “The Clark-Fuludu Bekederemo family of Kiagbodo Town, Delta State, wishes to announce the passing of Chief (Dr.) Sen. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark OFR, CON  on Monday 17th February 2025.

    “The family appreciates your prayers at this time. Other details will be announced later by the family.”

    The eldest son of the nonagenarian, Chief Ebikeme Clark, said his father died after experiencing breathing problems.

    He said the late Ijaw leader had breathing complications at about 11:30 pm on Saturday and was rushed to the hospital in the very early hours of Sunday.

    He said Clark was on admission at a private hospital in Abuja till he passed on.

    President Tinubu, former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari, Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo; the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and House of Representatives Speaker Abbas Tajudeen described Clark as a great patriot and nationalist who will be sorely missed.

    Tinubu hails Clark’s legacy

    President Tinubu said Clark’s passing was “a deeply sobering loss”, adding that he dedicated much of his 96 years to public service and advocacy, leaving behind a legacy of political courage and commitment to justice.

    In the tribute issue through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said: “Clark was a towering figure whose influence was felt across Nigeria’s political firmament for nearly six decades.

    “He was a courageous leader who stood for what he believed in and was never afraid to stand alone in the face of injustice.”

    The President said Clark was a strong advocate for resource control, economic and environmental justice in the Niger Delta, a cause he championed tirelessly.

    President Tinubu praised Clark’s patriotism and his unwavering commitment to national unity.

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    “Chief Clark spoke for the Niger Delta. He spoke for the nation. His views and interventions on national issues were distinct and patriotic.

    “Pa Clark, a lawyer and educationist, believed in a united Nigeria, and until his last breath, he never stopped reaching out to people from different parts of the country to work together to preserve national unity based on justice and equity,” the President said.

    President Tinubu lauded the weight of Clark’s convictions.

    “As an astute politician, his political opponents never doubted his words’ weight, confidence, and conviction when he spoke. Indeed, a patriot has transitioned to the great beyond.

    “History will remember him as a man who fought gallantly for the rights of the people of the Niger Delta, unity in diversity, and true federalism.

    “I know many generations will remain proud of how his efforts contributed to national prosperity and stability,” President Tinubu said.

    Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on behalf of the Federal Government, described the late Ijaw leader as a distinguished patriot who left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s governance, unity, and development.

    “His decades of service to the nation in various capacities – as a politician, nationalist, and elder statesman – left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s governance, unity, and development.

    “His advocacy, deep reservoir of wisdom, and unwavering commitment to national progress made him an invaluable voice in Nigeria’s political landscape.

    “His wise counsel and selfless contributions to nation-building will be sorely missed,” Idris said while extending the Federal Government’s heartfelt condolences.

    Buhari, Obasanjo mourn

    Former President Buhari described Clark as an “iconic statesman” whose contributions to national development will be long remembered.

    In a condolence message issued by his spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari said Clark’s death was a great loss to the nation.

    He noted the late Ijaw leader’s dedication to reforms and unwavering commitment to the progress of both his community and the country.

    “Chief Edwin Clark was a leader committed to the unity and development of Nigeria.

    “His contributions have left an indelible imprint on the nation’s history,” Buhari said.

    He urged Clark’s family, as well as the people of the Delta region, to uphold his legacy and honour the numerous achievements of the elder statesman.

    Obasanjo bemoaned the depleting ranks of the nation’s patriotic leaders, particularly when their wise counsel and rich experience were greatly needed.

    He said the late former Federal Commissioner was a great brother and friend, a frontline lawyer, a seasoned economist, a tested administrator, an accomplished politician and a revered community leader.

    In the message through his Special Assistant on Media Kehinde Akinyemi, the former President said: “It was shocking because we lost Chief Ayo Adebanjo, another prominent and illustrious son of Nigeria, just about four days ago.

    “Indeed, the ranks of the nation’s patriotic leadership are fast depleting by the loss of our dedicated and resourceful patriots who served the nation in various capacities, particularly at this crucial state in our nation’s history when their wise counsel and rich experience are greatly needed.

    “Over the years, Chief Clark was imbued with an undying love for his people and remained one of the more articulate and vocal champions of improved conditions for the oil-bearing states of the country.

    “As one of the foremost leaders of not only the Ijaw people but the Southsouth zone as a whole, he, until his death, exhorted his people on the imperative of peace and stability in the region.

    “He acquitted himself as a peace-loving, unassuming, and committed patriot. He was a firm believer in democracy and participatory governance.

    “Ever since, he built for himself an impressive profile of immense goodwill and affection among his people, as a frontline politician and community leader.

    “Nevertheless, his thoughts, utterances, and deeds were completely devoid of political partisanship. He was a detribalized Nigerian and had friends from all over the country.

    “Even at his prime age, Chief Clark never rested on his oars to continue to contribute to national development as a committed nationalist.

    “I recall some time in 2021, he, for the greater good of the nation, volunteered to be part of the Committee for Goodness of Nigeria (CGN) which was convened by me along with His Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan and General Abdusalami Abubakar to look, at the time, into the pressing issues of national unity, security, peace, integration, economic revitalization and development, women and youth welfare and general progress.

    “For all I knew about him since our paths crossed, Chief Clark never, for once, rested on his oars in exhibiting uncommon courage and commitment to progressive ideals in his contributions to the socio-political development of our country and national discourse.

    “There is no doubt that just as his death must have, of necessity, elicited grief and confoundment in the family, in the Niger-Delta Region, it must have also in the good people of our great nation, particularly at a time when the country still needed his wealth of experience, wisdom, and counsel.

    “We thank God, however, that Chief Clark lived a long and God-fearing life, full of service to Nigeria and its people, and left behind the virtues of hard work and transparency in public life which are important lessons for both the present and future generations.

    “We should also be consoled by the fact that he lived a life worthy of communal emulation, touched the soul of his community, and is mourned by all.”

    Jonathan: he was an inspiration

    Ex-President Jonathan described Clark as a bridge-builder and patriot.

    In a statement by his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, he said the late elder statesman was a father figure, peerless icon and relentless crusader for justice who devoted his life to the betterment of society.

    Dr. Jonathan said the late Ijaw leader inspired different generations of leaders, including himself, during his lifetime.

    “Chief E.K. Clark was not just a father figure to me but a peerless icon of Nigeria’s political landscape, a voice of reason and a relentless advocate for justice, equity and unity.

    “His was a life of selfless service, unwavering courage and an unyielding commitment to the development of the Niger Delta region and Nigeria as a whole.

    “His wisdom, foresight and dedication to the principles of fairness and good governance inspired generations of leaders, including myself.

    “He was a man of integrity, a bridge-builder, and a patriot who devoted his life to the betterment of our society,” Jonathan said while recalling Clark’s invaluable counsel and support during his tenure as president of Nigeria.

    He commiserated with the immediate family, friends and associates of the elder statesman.

    NGF: he was never afraid to speak

    NGF, in a statement by its Chairman/Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said in losing Clark after Adebanjo, Nigeria lost outstanding voices who were never afraid to offer their views on issues of national importance.

    “The forum recalls that the duo played critical roles in the evolution of the country’s democracy, constitutional development, and the discourse around its federal system vis-a-vis topical issues of resource control and the rights of ethnic minorities.

    “The NGF sends its heartfelt condolences to the people and governments of Southwest and Southsouth, especially Ogun and Delta states, and the families of the statesmen on these sad developments.

    “The forum prays for the repose of their souls, saying their legacies will endure for generations yet unborn,” NGF said.

    Northern State Governors’ Forum, in a statement by its chairman/Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya, described Clark as an upright and relentless advocate of fairness.

    The 19 Northern governors extended their heartfelt condolences to the Clark family, the government and people of Delta, the Southsouth region, and Nigeria as a whole.

    “Chief Clark was an advocate for the rights of the downtrodden and a steadfast voice for the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.

    “His commitment to justice and good governance distinguished him as a statesman of great repute.

    “His demise is a profound loss, not just to the South-South but to the entire country,” the statement added.

    Southern Governors Forum, in a statement by its Chairman/Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, said Clark’s death was a profound loss yet a glorious conclusion of a monumental chapter in Nigerian history.

    It said: “The exit of Pa Clark at 96 marks a watershed in Nigerian history. As a man who lived through the struggles and triumphs of the colonial, independence and post-independence eras with all the twists and turns, Chief Clark was simply a personification of Nigerian history.

    “He served with distinction for about seven decades and was one of the most accomplished voices of courage and progressivism that Nigeria has ever witnessed.

    “The outpouring of emotions following his death, coming on the heels of the transition of a kindred spirit, the inimitable Pa Ayo Adebanjo, indeed marks a moment that all Nigerians must be proud of.”

    Speaker: he served diligently

    Speaker Tajudeen said Clark served Nigeria diligently until his passage, fought for the interests of the oil-rich Niger Delta region and was one of the voices of reasoning in Nigeria.

    He noted that even after public service and politics, the nonagenarian continued to rally the Niger Delta through PANDEF, and formed alliances with other regional and zonal bodies for the common good of the people.

    He commiserated with the people and the government of Delta, and the Niger Delta while praying for the repose of Clark’s soul.

    Tajudeen prayed to God to give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

  • Buhari mourns Edwin Clark 

    Buhari mourns Edwin Clark 

    …hails him as iconic statesman

    Former President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Chief Edwin Clark, describing him as an “iconic statesman” whose contributions to national development will be long remembered.

    In a condolence message made available in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari said Clark’s death was a great loss to the nation, emphasising the late Ijaw leader’s dedication to reforms and unwavering commitment to the progress of both his community and the country.

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    “Chief Edwin Clark was a leader committed to the unity and development of Nigeria. His contributions have left an indelible imprint on the nation’s history,” Buhari stated.

    He urged Clark’s family, as well as the people of the Delta region, to uphold his legacy and honor the numerous achievements of the elder statesman

  • Fubara, Otuaro, Dakuku, Eradiri, Ikwerre mourn Edwin Clark 

    Fubara, Otuaro, Dakuku, Eradiri, Ikwerre mourn Edwin Clark 

    The death of the Ijaw national leader and former leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) Pa Chief E.K Clark at 97 has thrown the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta into mourning.

    The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, extended his condolences to the Clark-Fuludu Bekederemo family of Kiagbodo Town in Delta State over the passing of their father, Chief Clark.

    Fubara said the death of Chief Edwin Clark, made public on behalf of the family by Prof C. C. Clark, was rather heart-wrenching and tragic given the impact of such a loss.

    Fubara in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, said: “I am deeply saddened to hear about the loss of our beloved father and leader, Chief Edwin Clark. Despite his age, he remained active, serving as beacon of hope and conscience to leaders in government.

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    “He kept in touch with national issues and did not cease from providing elderly counsel to leaders at various levels, in pursuit of responsible and responsive leadership in Nigeria.”

    The governor noted that Chief Edwin Clark, as a courageous Ijaw leader, nationalist, and freedom fighter, demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to the unity of the country, and boldly defended the rights of the minorities, especially Niger Deltans.

    “He has left indelible footprints as a nationalist for the inspiring roles he played in the Middle-Belt Leaders Forum (MBLF), and as leader of Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF). I pray the Almighty God to grant the repose of his soul and reward his courageous services to the Niger Delta region and Nigeria”, the governor said.

    Fubara also consoled the family, saying: “As you navigate this dark period, remember that you are not alone. May the Almighty God grant you the strength and fortitude to bear this painful loss.”

    The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro, expressed deep sorrow over the death of elder statesman and foremost leader of the Ijaw nation, the Niger Delta and the South-South region.

    Otuaro described the demise of Clark at the age of 97 on Monday, February 17, 2025, as announced by his immediate family, as a huge loss to the country, the Ijaw nation, the Niger Delta and other minorities in the country.

    He described Clark as a great patriot, nationalist, teacher, lawyer, administrator, and a towering figure in Nigerian politics, who made immense contributions to the political development and unity of the country.

    Otuaro said that Clark’s public service records spanning pre-colonial and post-colonial Nigeria were legendary, and a manifestation of his unwavering commitment and dedication to nation building.

    The PAP helmsman noted that Clark was a charismatic leader and mentor under whose tutelage prominent socio-political platforms like the Ijaw National Congress (INC), South South Peoples Assembly, Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) became strong leading voices for regional and national cohesion built on the principles of equity, fairness and justice.

    He further stated that as a fearless Ijaw man, Clark was a tireless and consistent freedom fighter for minority rights and a powerful advocate for true federalism, resource control, environmental justice, economic development and better living condition for his people in the Niger Delta.

    Otuaro said that as a growing young Ijaw man, he learnt and benefitted valuable life-lessons at the feet of the departed elder statesman which had helped him a great deal in his life.

    The PAP boss added that Clark’s sharp, magnetic memory and his ability to recall incidents that happened many years ago even in his old age stood him out as a reservoir of knowledge and wisdom.

    He said he was profoundly saddened by the passing of a warrior-father and expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Clark’s family, the Ijaw nation and indeed the people of the Niger Delta.

    A fomer director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside said with the demise of Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, Nigeria had lost a “voice, patriot, statesman, defender and shining light.”

    Peterside, who received the news with shock, stated that the demise of the Federal Commissioner of Information had created a vacuum that would be too huge to fill.

    He said: “The late Clark is a true Nigerian hero who spoke truth to power and made a lot of sacrifices defending the rights and privileges of the minorities”.

    While stressing that the deceased represented courage and patriotism, the turnaround expert said he was a champion of the Niger Delta struggle and never wavered in ensuring that the people got a fair deal from government at all levels.

    He said: “My last encounter with him was to discuss his book. I made a speech on behalf of younger Ijaw leaders in Lagos, and he called to appreciate me for the kind words I said about him. He challenged my generation to carry on with the struggle.

    “He was a role model, a mentor, one who led the way for others to follow. At his blessed age, he could simply have retired home, but he chose to fight for the cause of common Nigerians regardless of their backgrounds.

    “Pa Clark was never afraid to stand for what he believed in; once he is convinced of the proprietary of the cause, he puts his all, even against his safety.

    “A sizeable chunk of projects, appointments, policies and programmes we have in the Niger Delta were through his struggles alongside other patriotic sons and daughters of the region,” he stressed.

    Peterside sympathised with the government and people of Delta State, the Ijaw ethnic nationality worldwide, elders, and leaders in the Niger Delta over the passage of a “great and irrepressible son.”

    A former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri, described the death of PA Clark as an incalculable and irreparable loss.

    Referring to Clark as the advocate of the masses, the defender of the minority and the protector of the Niger Delta and the Ijaw Nation, Eradiri, said the elder statesman would be missed.

    Eradiri recalled all his meetings and interfaces he had with the late Ijaw National Leader and said he was a rallying point for the progress and development of the Niger Delta.

    He said: “He was a fearless warrior and did not shy away from speaking truth to power. Pa Clark fought injustice, marginalisation and spoke out for the oppressed. He was also a beleiver in the unity, peace and progress of the country. We will surely miss him”.

    The Ikwerre ethnic nationality in Rivers State under the auspices of the Ikwerre People’s Congress (IPC) Worldwide, has said it  receives the passing of Pa Edwin K. Clark with a heavy heart. 

    The IPC in a statement signed by its Chairman, Livingstone Wechie; Vice-Chairman, Ihunwo Obi-Wali  and Secretary-General, Nworgu described the late Clark as a patriot extraordinaire and a statesman of no small measure. 

    “Chief Clark was a father and field marshal in the fight for justice and equity for the Niger Delta. Indeed he was a friend of Ikwerres and all Peoples that encountered him. We remember him for his relentless political activism, educational investment and philanthropy. We say Ikwerres have lost an irreplaceable “Enyi and Wene’ ( a friend and brother”, IPC said.

    The group said Clark served as a bridge that brought people from all heritage together for the actualization of equal political participation in the affairs of state and the realisation of self determination. 

    The statement said: “He was a core in the demand for resource control. He did not compromise the quest for the resolution of the rights of the ethnic land and resource owners of the Nigerian state. No doubt he had his controversial curves which some did not agree with and this is only natural. 

    “He was a respecter of divergent views because that is the beauty of struggle. He has led creditably well as the Chairman of PANDEF after taking over from his predecessor of blessed memory”.

  • Edwin Clark: Nigeria lost a voice – Dakuku Peterside

    Edwin Clark: Nigeria lost a voice – Dakuku Peterside

     The Former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside has mourned the death of  Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark

    In a statement issued by his media team on Tuesday, Peterside said with the demise of Chief Clark, Nigeria has lost a “voice, patriot, statesman, defender and shining light.”

    Peterside said he  received the news with shock, adding that the demise of the late federal commissioner of information has created a vacuum that will be too huge to fill.

     “The late Clark is a true Nigerian hero who spoke truth to power and made a lot of sacrifices defending the rights and privileges of the minorities,” he stressed. While stressing that the deceased represented courage and patriotism, the turnaround expert said he was a champion of the Niger Delta struggle and never wavered in ensuring that the people got a fair deal from government at all levels.

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     “My last encounter with him was to discuss his book. I made a speech on behalf of younger Ijaw leaders in Lagos, and he called to appreciate me for the kind words I said about him. He challenged my generation to carry on with the struggle.

    “He was a role model, a mentor, one who led the way for others to follow. At his blessed age, he could simply have retired home, but he chose to fight for the cause of common Nigerians regardless of their backgrounds. 

    “Pa Clark was never afraid to stand for what he believed in; once he is convinced of the proprietary of the cause, he puts his all, even against his safety. A sizeable chunk of projects, appointments, policies and programmes we have in the Niger Delta were through his struggles alongside other patriotic sons and daughters of the region,” he stressed. 

    Peterside sympathised with the government and people of Delta State, the Ijaw ethnic nationality worldwide, elders, and leaders in the Niger Delta over the passage of a “great and irrepressible son.”

  • Diri mourns passage of Edwin Clark

    Diri mourns passage of Edwin Clark

    Bayelsa state governor, Douye Diri, says he received the news of the passing of the Ijaw ethnic nationality’s foremost personage and leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, with sadness and equanimity.

    In a statement by his media aide, Daniel Alabrah, the governor said the Ijaw nation had lost its father figure and irrepressible voice.

    Diri stated: “Chief Clark was an icon, a treasure of inestimable value, and a nationalist par excellence.

    “He was a distinguished patriot, who dedicated his whole life to the service of Nigeria. Until the very end, he was unrelenting.

    “As the Ijaw nation reflects on the passage of this exceptional sage, we take solace in his matchless contributions to national development.

    “On behalf of the Ijaw nation, the government, and the people of Bayelsa State, I express heartfelt condolences to the Clark family of Kiagbodo in Burutu Local Government Area and the Delta State government.

    “I pray the Lord to grant the family and indeed the Ijaw nation the grace to bear this great loss.”

  • Onoh mourns ‘last voice of liberation’ Edwin Clark

    Onoh mourns ‘last voice of liberation’ Edwin Clark

    President Bola Tinubu’s former campaign spokesman in the South East, Dr Josef Onoh, has mourned the late leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, describing him as the last of Nigeria’s Titans. 

    Onoh said that Clark lived an exemplary life of humanity, using politics to agitate and institute humane governance through his advocacies. 

    He noted that Clark was a national leader and a pan-Nigerian who strived to ensure equity for all nationalities in the country, campaigning for unity of purpose among the divides of the people. 

    “I recall with nostalgia the events of 14th February 2010 when his individual telephone call to a few of us, young politicians, to convene for an emergency meeting, which cut our Valentine’s Day celebration short. In his words, he said, ‘We owe our nation a great sacrifice.

    “He mobilised us as a coalition of Nigeria youth leaders to stand against the cabal that was frustrating the doctrine of necessity, which ushered in President Goodluck Jonathan. He continued to be a guide to us, the voice of wisdom, the voice of hope, the voice of inspiration, the voice of motivation, and the last voice of liberation.”

    Onoh said Clark remained strong and active even at old age, refusing to shift ideology but maintained steadfast in rejecting bad governance, impunity, and injustice.

    He regretted that Clark and the late Pa Ayo Adebanjo of the Afenifere transited at the same time the President Bola Tinubu’s administration needed their wise counsel to navigate the murky waters of Nigeria’s diversity.

    “Nigerians will however be consoled that the footprints of these departed statesmen will remain in their consciousness to continue the process of enthroning a better Nation of our dreams. It’s been my greatest honour and blessing to have benefited from his wise counsel and fountain of wisdom,” Onoh said.

  • Governor Oborevwori mourns Edwin Clark

    Governor Oborevwori mourns Edwin Clark

    Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has joined millions of other Niger Deltans to mourn the passing of the elder statesman and Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark.

    A post on Oborevwori’s Facebook page described the ex-federal commissioner and founder of the foremost Southern group, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), as “patriotic,” and “bold”.

    He also conveyed his deep condolences to his immediate family, the people of Kiagbodo, and the entire Ijaw nation.

    The post read: “Today, I mourn the passing of an elder statesman, Nigerian patriot, and role model, Chief (Dr) Sen. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, OFR, OON, an icon whose influence traversed Nigeria’s political scene for six decades. Teacher, educator, public servant, and politician, Chief Clark was a model of integrity, consistency, fidelity to a cause, and patriotic fervor.

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    “To the people of the Niger Delta region, he was their champion. Bold, outspoken, and fearless, he stood resolute in crusading for fairness, equity, and justice for the region.

    “His exit is also a personal loss; he was a motivator, mentor, and father to me. I will miss his wisdom, counsel, and zest for life.

    “My thoughts and prayers are with his family, the people of Kiagbodo in Burutu LGA of Delta State, and the Ijaw nation over this monumental loss. We can all take solace in the saying that Chief Clark came, he saw, and he conquered.

    “May God grant his soul eternal repose.”