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Edwin Clark

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edwin Clark (May 25, 1927 - February 17, 2025), also known as Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, was a Nigerian nationalist, Ijaw national leader and politician.[1] He served under the administrations of the military governor Samuel Ogbemudia and head of state, General Yakubu Gowon between 1966 and 1975.[1] In 1966, he was part of an advisory committee to the military governor of the Mid-Western Region province, David Ejoor and became Federal Commissioner of Information in 1975.[1] In 1966, he was part of an advisory committee to the military governor of the Mid-Western Region province, David Ejoor and became Federal Commissioner of Information in 1975.[1]

Clark was an unofficial adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan.[1] He was a philanthropist who founded the Edwin Clark Foundation and established a university in his hometown in 2015.[1]

Death

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Clark died on February 17, 2025, at the age of 97.[2]

Former president of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo described Clark as a "great brother, friend, a frontline lawyer and seasoned economist".[3]

A Nigerian pastor and blogger based in Warri, Isaiah Ogedegbe, described Clark as "a patriotic Nigerian known for his boldness and truthfulness at all times".[2]

According to Ogedegbe, "Clark was a highly respected leader of the Ijaw nation who was a man of noble character, exceptional wisdom and uprightness. He was a man who always fought for the good of his people, and was a conscientious defender of their rights".[2]

Clark was also noted for his ability to always speak truth to power, and was never scared of addressing any national issue.[2]

Legacy

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Edwin Clark's life is aptly summarized by Pastor Isaiah Ogedegbe who described him as "a highly respected leader of the Ijaw nation who was a man of noble character, exceptional wisdom and uprightness".[4] Clark continues to be seen as "a patriotic Nigerian known for his boldness and truthfulness at all times", and also as "a man who fought for the good of his people, and was a conscientious defender of their rights".[4]

He is also considered as "an unrepentant believer in the rights of the Niger Delta people".[5]

His legacy is one "of advocacy, education and an unrelenting pursuit of justice and equity for both the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole".[6] It is also one "marked by his persistent call for equity, justice and restructuring in Nigeria".[7][8]

Clark's influence is often regarded as being "not confined to education and national politics", as he was said to have "used his voice to demand accountability, transparency, and good governance".[9] It earned him commendations as well as criticisms.[10]

Dubbed the "Father of the Niger Delta Struggle" due to "his unwavering dedication to the people", Clark was also described as "a man who fearlessly wrestled dictators and oil giants".[11] Today, Clark's legacy is seen to have been "a guiding light in the region's quest for equity and development", as he is considered as "a fearless leader, advocate, and father of the Niger Delta struggle".[12] He is also considered as "one of the most pragmatic, dogged and courageous fighters for justice, equity and parity in Nigeria and the Niger Delta, whose contagious voice resonated with many across various settings".[13]

Furthermore, Clark's legacy is intertwined with acts of charitable initiatives through Edwin Clark University "for the benefit of humanity".[14] His legacy has had an enduring impact on Nigerian youths, inspiring a new generation of Nigerians and teaching them the efficacy of advocacy and bravery, dedication to service and leadership, the need for oneness and nation-building, the importance of wisdom, expertise and mentorship, and determination in challenging situations.[15]

References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Ogedegbe, Isaiah (18 February 2025). "18 things to know about the late Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark". NewsExpress Nigeria. Archived from the original on 19 February 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Ogedegbe, Evelyn (20 February 2025). "Chief Edwin Clark Was A Patriotic Nigerian, Says Nigerian Cleric And Blogger". The Warri Times. Archived from the original on 20 February 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
  3. ↑ Oyeweso, Femi (18 February 2025). "Obasanjo Mourns Edwin Clark, Says Late PANDEF Leader Was Accomplished Politician". Leadership News. Archived from the original on 18 February 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Edwin Clark (25 May 1927 - 17 Feb.2025)". Peoples Daily Newspaper. 22 February 2025. Archived from the original on 2 March 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  5. ↑ "Governors, Obi, Ibori, Tompolo, others mourn Ijaw leader Clark". The Nation Newspaper. 19 February 2025. Archived from the original on 19 February 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2025. Governor Eno said Clark was a foremost Niger Delta leader, nationalist and an unrepentant believer in the rights of the Niger Delta people.
  6. ↑ Sobowale, Adetutu (18 February 2025). "Edwin Clark: The fearless voice of Niger Delta goes silent". The Punch Newspaper. Archived from the original on 22 February 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  7. ↑ "CHIEF EDWIN KIAGBODO CLARK DIES AT 97". People and Power Magazine. 18 February 2025. Archived from the original on 1 March 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  8. ↑ "Edwin Clark, Biography". MyNigeria.com. Archived from the original on 1 March 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  9. ↑ Kabi, Michael (24 February 2025). "A Tribute To Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark: A Life Of Service, Wisdom, And Legacy". ThisAge.com.ng. Archived from the original on 1 March 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  10. ↑ Muaz, Hassan (5 February 2023). "E. K. Clark and the abuse of old age, by Friday Ewiwilem". The Eagle Online. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  11. ↑ Godlives, Patrick O. (1 March 2025). "PA EDWIN CLARK: A LIFE OF SERVICE, POLITICS, AND ADVOCACY". Alexander Brown Hall Press. Archived from the original on 2 March 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  12. ↑ "Ogulagha Elders Synod mourns Edwin Clark". Vanguard News. 27 February 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  13. ↑ Djebah, Oma (3 March 2025). "E.K. Clark: A Lesson in Lofty Courage and Conduct". ThisDay Newspaper. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  14. ↑ Yafugborhi, Egufe (14 November 2015). "Edwin Clark varsity opens, grants scholarship to 100". Vanguard News. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  15. ↑ "Five Key Lessons from the Life and Times of Chief Dr. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark". Edwin Clark University. Archived from the original on 5 March 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.

Further reading

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