The administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of elder statesman and foremost leader of the Ijaw nation, the Niger Delta and the South-South region, Edwin Kiagbodo Clark.
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 Nigeria, the Ijaw nation, the Niger Delta and other minorities in the country.
The special assistant on media to the administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Mr Igoniko Oduma, described Clark as a great patriot, nationalist, teacher, lawyer, and administrator who made immense contributions to the country’s political development and unity.
Otuaro said Clark’s public service records spanning pre-colonial and post-colonial Nigeria were legendary and a manifestation of his unwavering commitment 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 conditions for his people in the Niger Delta.
Otuaro said that as a growing young Ijaw man, he learnt and benefitted from 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, distinguished him 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 family, the Ijaw nation and, indeed, the people of the Niger Delta. Otuaro prayed to God to grant the soul of Clark eternal rest and comfort his family.
