Renowned Nigerian statesman and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, has passed away at the age of 97.
In a statement by the family and signed by Prof. C. C. Clark for the family and Mr. Penawei Clark for the children, said the late elder statesman died on Monday, 17th February, 2025.
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.”
Edwin Clark was born on the 25th May, 1927 in Kiagbodo Ijaw region, Bendel state, now Delta state.
He is a distinguished Nigerian elder statesman, politician, and advocate, widely recognized for his enduring influence in the country’s political landscape. He attended primary and secondary schools at Effurun, Okrika and Afugbene, and furthered his studies at the Government Teacher Training College, now Delta State University, Abraka. He earned a law degree abroad.
Clark has dedicated much of his life to public service and the pursuit of justice for the Niger Delta region. His early political career saw him serve as the Federal Commissioner for Information during General Yakubu Gowon’s military regime in the 1960s. 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.
After the military coup of January 1996, Clark was a group of delegates from the Mid-West who opposed any idea of confederation that was raised at an ad-hoc constitutional conference set up by Gowon in 1966.
Clark was later appointed Midwestern Commissioner of Education and later, Finance. 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.
Throughout his career, Clark has navigated various political challenges and controversies. His strong regional advocacy has sometimes been perceived as ethnically biased, and his outspoken support for political figures such as former President Goodluck Jonathan has drawn both praise and criticism.
Incidents like the 2018 police raid on his residence, which was widely condemned and seen as politically motivated, highlight the contentious nature of his activism. Despite these challenges, Edwin Clark remains a venerable figure in Nigerian politics, respected for his unwavering dedication to the Niger Delta and his broader contributions to national political and social issues. His legacy is marked by his persistent call for equity, justice, and restructuring in Nigeria.
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