By Perekeme Odon
LAGOS, NIGERIA — While the funeral rites
for the late elder statesman, Chief (Dr.) Senator Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, CFR, CON
(1927–2025) were
being solemnly observed in his hometown of Kiagbodo, Delta State, in a
resounding display of unity, reverence, and cultural pride, members of the Niger Delta community, dignitaries, activists, students, and
community groups residing in
Lagos gathered on Tuesday, 13 May 2025, at the Tam Royal Multipurpose Hall in Alapere, Ketu,
Lagos, to honour the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of the formidable voice of the Niger Delta, whose impact continues
to inspire and ignite passion across generations.
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Chief (Dr.) Senator Edwin Kiagbodo Clark CFR, CON
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Themed
“It’s the End of an Era in Nigeria – The Last of the Old Brigade”, the event
drew together representatives from the Ijaw Nation, the wider Niger Delta
region, and the broader Lagosian community, including women’s organisations and
associations of the physically challenged. The gathering stood as a testament
to the extraordinary impact of Pa Clark, a man who spent nearly a century
advocating for justice, equity, and national unity.
In
his opening address, Comrade Joseph Evah, Convener and Coordinator of the Ijaw
Monitoring Group (IMG), expressed deep gratitude to attendees for their
presence and delivered a poignant call to action. “With the passing of Pa
Clark, the Ijaw Nation must rise to the occasion. We must now take full
responsibility for shaping our future,” he declared solemnly.
Addressing
members of the press, Comrade Evah described Pa Clark as a “post-Civil War hero
and a Lagosian,” referencing his tenure as Federal Commissioner under General
Yakubu Gowon, his service as a Senator in Lagos, and his most recent marriage,
which took place in Maryland, Lagos. “He truly belonged to Lagos, and this
gathering is a fitting tribute to the life he lived,” Evah remarked.
Reflecting
on Pa Clark’s unique role in Nigerian history, Evah highlighted his
unparalleled memory, deep grasp of national affairs, and unwavering commitment
to national unity. “He harboured no bias. He believed in Nigeria, and in his
memory, we pray that leaders of his calibre emerge in every generation.”
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| Comrade Joseph Evah |
Evah
concluded by noting that the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and the Ijaw
National Congress (INC) must now enter a new phase of introspection and
strategy. “During his lifetime, many of us acted like children under his
watchful gaze. Now, reality has set in. The Niger Delta must return to the
drawing board.”
Delivering
the keynote address, Lagos State University Head of Department of Microbiology,
Professor Dauphin Dighitoghi Moro, paid glowing tribute to Pa Clark’s
intellectual and activist contributions. “He was the first to speak truth to
the Nigerian government regarding injustices in the Niger Delta, even before
and after the Isaac Boro 12-Day Revolution,” Prof Moro noted. “His death is not
an end, but a continuation of the vision he embodied.”
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A Cross Section
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However,
Prof. Moro expressed concern about the current state of leadership within the
Niger Delta. He urged the INC and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) to overcome
their divisions. “There is currently a vacuum, and many are scrambling to fill
it. But there can be no replacement for Pa Clark. The INC and IYC must find
common ground, work as a unified body, and re-strategise on critical issues
like resource control and restructuring.”
The
event’s cultural segment was a vivid expression celebrating heritage, featuring
captivating displays of traditional masquerades, indigenous dances, and the
ceremonial welcome of Miss NAIFS, who was formally introduced to the Ijaw
female students’ body in Lagos—a symbolic moment honouring the role of women in
continuing the legacy of the Ijaw struggle.
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Comrade Joseph Evah & Mrs Preye Evah
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True
to tradition, the Ijaw Monitoring Group rounded off the event with the
presentation of awards and a distribution of food items, cash gifts, fabrics and
other tokens of appreciation, creating an atmosphere of celebration and
gratitude amid the solemnity of loss.
This
commemorative occasion not only honoured the memory of Chief Dr. Senator Pa
Edwin Kiagbodo Clark but also reaffirmed the commitment of the Niger Delta and
Ijaw peoples to preserve his enduring legacy and continue the struggle for
progress and unity.
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(l-r) Comrade Karebo Samson, Mrs. Patience Ogbogbo & Prof. D. D Moro
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Chief
Edwin Kiagbodo Clark (E.K. Clark) possesses an impressive and distinguished
record of service to Nigeria. A trained lawyer and seasoned administrator, he
has long been recognised as the paramount Ijaw National Leader, as well as a
dedicated nationalist and freedom fighter. Chief Clark has held prominent
leadership roles, including as the convener of the South-South Peoples
Assembly, a principal figure in the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum
(SMBLF), and the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
His
public service career spans several decades and key positions: Commissioner for
Education in the former Mid-Western Region from 1968 to 1971; Commissioner for
Finance and Establishments in the erstwhile Bendel State from 1972 to 1975;
Federal Commissioner for Information in 1975; and Senator of the Federal
Republic from 1979 to 1983. His enduring commitment to national development and
regional equity underscores his stature as a respected elder statesman.
As
Nigeria bids farewell to one of its last towering statesmen of the independence
era, the words heard most often in the hall were not of mourning, but of
resolve—a promise that Pa Edwin Kiagbodo Clark’s vision for justice, unity, and
a truly inclusive Nigeria shall not die with him.
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Dignitaries On The High table
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| Comrade Joseph Evah, Mrs Preye Evah &
Miss NAIFS
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Miss Doubrah Samuel,
Pst. Ebitimi Dio-Posibi,
Mrs Justina Okwuadei |
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Comrade Joseph Evah & Dancer Williams Awala
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Comrade Evah in an Hand shake With Mrs. Patience Ogbogbo of IWLF
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Miss Doubrah Samuel & High Chief Andrew Elijah |
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Miss NAIFS in a Cultural Display With the Dancers
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Masquerade Display
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Mrs. Adigha Odili, President, Izon Ebilade Ogbo & Comrade Evah
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Traditional Dance Display
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Wrestling Contest
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Masquarade Display
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Rear View of Williams Awala & His Dancers
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A Display of Cultural Dances
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Comrade Tikima I. Arigban (Chairman IYC Lagos) & Rep of IJC
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Award Presentation to a Great Wrestler
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Procession Drummers
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Miss NAIFS & Dancers
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(L-R)Timipaere Biegbudu, Karebo Samson, Mrs Patince Ogbogbo & Prof Moro
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Comrade Joseph Evah Addressing the Audience
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