* Late Chief Edwin Clark
By Yinka Olopade
Wednesday February 19, 2025
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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Afenifere leader Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti have mourned the demise of Chief Edwin Clark, describing his death as irreparable loss to the country.
Chief Clark, a former federal commissioner for information under the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon, died peacefully on Monday, February 17, at the age of 97.
According to a press statement by a representative of the family, Prof. C. C. Clark, on Tuesday, “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.
Going into memory lane, Obasanjo said that Edwin Clarks had an eventful service to the nation as Commissioner for Education and Finance in the former Midwestern State at various times between 1968 to 1974 and his stint as the official spokesman of the Federal Government in 1975 cannot go unrecognized.
According to the former President: “I received yet another shocking and sad news of the passing of a great brother and friend, a frontline lawyer, a seasoned economist, a tested administrator, an accomplished politician and a revered community leader, Chief Edwin Clark.
“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 because of 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.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that Chief Clark had an eventful service to the nation as Commissioner for Education and Finance in the former Midwestern State, at various times between 1968 to 1974, and his stint as the official spokesman of the Federal Government in 1975 cannot go unrecognized. I remember him as a close colleague in the Cabinet of General Yakubu Gowon.
Obasanjo stressed that “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 South-South 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.
“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 also have 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.
“We pray the Good Lord to grant the soul of Chief Clark a peaceful rest and the Clark family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
Atiku described Clark as a “Trojan war horse in the battlefields for independence. Above all, he was a diehard proponent of nation-building, true federalism, equity, and good governance.
“Undoubtedly, he was a veteran freedom fighter, educationist, philanthropist, legal luminary, and astute administrator who mentored many nationalists and patriots like us.
“Clark spoke loudly and worked assiduously in support of inclusiveness, especially for the minority ethnic groups in Nigeria. He was fiery, fearless, and forthright in his peaceful and constitutional pursuit of an egalitarian society in our country. Sadly, that lofty dream seemed to have dimmed before his eyes.
“But, we, his mentees, shall rekindle the torch and continue the drive for a better Nigeria.
“Between 1953 and 1983, Clark paid his dues from the ebb of the ladder at the local government level up to becoming a State Commissioner and even a distinguished senator of the Federal Republic.
“I sincerely share in the grieving mood of his nuclear and extended families, particularly PANDEF, the Ijaw nation, Delta State, and Nigeria in its entirety.
“Rest on Pa Clark, the loud voice of reason against foul political practices. You were an architect of the rule of law, justice, and fair play.
“May God receive your gentle soul and allow you to blissfully rest in eternity.”
Also, the national leader of the Pan-Yoruba Socio-political groups, Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, expressed shock over the demise of the Leader of the Pan-Niger Development Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark.
Fasoranti described Clark as a great man who would be remembered for his fearlessness and the knack to ‘say it as he saw it’.
A statement by Afenifere National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, quoted Fasoranti as saying that lovers of democracy and particularly advocates of restructuring will sorely miss the former Commissioner for Information.
Fasoranti said “Since the need to ensure that Nigeria serves the best interests of the vast majority became more pertinent, my brother, Chief Edwin Clark, was a very strong advocate.
“His voice was loud in the agitations for a restructured Nigeria. He always displayed the same strong passions on national issues especially those that affected the South-South”.
Fasoranti said that it grieved his heart that he had to mourn another compatriot just a few days after the death of the erstwhile acting leader of Afenifere and a comrade-in-arm, Chief Ayodele Adebanjo.
“Of course, we know that death is inevitable for all mortals, but it can be heart-rending and painful to lose one’s comrades in succession.
” On behalf of Afenifere and fellow compatriots, I condole the immediate and extended families of our late patriot, Chief Edwin Clark, the people of Delta State, and the people of the South-South generally on his demise.”
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