Former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has said that the best way to honour the late Ijaw hero, Chief Edwin Clark, is for his ethnic group to embrace greater unity, irrespective of kingdom or clan.
Speaking at the lying-in-state and commendation service held at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Jonathan said Clark’s innate qualities set him apart as a leader not only to the Ijaws but also to other ethnic nationalities, as evidenced by the frequent visits of people from across the country to his home.
He said:
“The key thing for us, the Ijaw people, from Arogbo in the coastal part of Ondo State to Eastern Obolo in the coastal part of Akwa Ibom State, is to honour Pa Clark by uniting and not discriminating among ourselves.
“Clark did very well for us. He was the face of the Niger Delta and not just the Ijaw ethnic nationality. He was also the face of the oppressed people from the Middle Belt and other tribes, who visited him more than even the Ijaws.
“He was very vocal, brave, and could challenge any person at any time if you raised issues that were against his philosophy.”
In his tribute, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, said the Ijaw nation was fortunate to have had a father figure like Clark, known for his fearlessness, courage, intelligence, and love for his people and Nigeria at large.
According to him, “We are not mourning but celebrating the good deeds of Chief Clark. I urge us to emulate his steadfastness and love for his people, as he always spoke about the unity and development of the Ijaw people until his last moments.”
Governor Diri disclosed that the state executive council had constituted a committee to consider naming iconic structures and streets after prominent Ijaw personalities, both living and deceased, including Clark, Jonathan, and Dickson, as part of efforts to immortalise them.
He urged Ijaws to demonstrate genuine love for one another, not just for political gains.
“Let us return to the days when there were no fences in our villages and we lived a communal life of freedom and justice. Many sacrificed their lives so we could have a homogeneous Ijaw state. One of those who fought for the creation of Bayelsa was Pa Clark.”
In his remarks, Senator Seriake Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, described Clark as a voice respected nationwide due to his selflessness. He said the Ijaw nation had lost one of its best, as Clark lived his entire life in service to his people, and prayed for such a leader to emerge again from the ethnic group.
President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, eulogised Clark as a supreme advocate and fearless defender of the marginalised, describing him as an irrepressible voice for the voiceless and a pillar of national unity whose legacy transcended politics.
He said Clark’s passing should remind all Nigerians of the collective responsibility to build a just, equitable, and prosperous nation.
Prof. Okaba also described the late nonagenarian as one of the few notable champions of the Ijaw struggle whose influence went beyond regional boundaries, calling him an extraordinary personality.
Chairman of the Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, said Clark’s legacies would endure in the hearts of all Ijaws and other ethnic nationalities. He praised Clark for his selflessness, describing his voice as the loudest and most audacious in Nigeria in advocating for justice and equity.
Similarly, National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Dr. Godknows Igali, recounted Clark’s last moments, revealing that the late Ijaw icon urged his people to remain united, strong, and resilient.
He said Clark embodied the essence of the Ijaw man and always professed his identity.
The deceased’s first son, Pinaowei Clark, read the only Bible lesson from Ecclesiastes 3:1-6.
President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Comrade Jonathan Lokpobiri, also paid glowing tributes to the late Ijaw national leader.
Chief Clark died on February 17 this year at the age of 97.
Prominent leaders from the Ijaw ethnic nationality, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, his predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson, and INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, on Monday paid tributes to the late Ijaw icon and Niger Delta leader, Pa Edwin Clark.
Others in attendance were the Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo; former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi; former Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; House of Representatives member for Sagbama-Ekeremor federal constituency, Dr. Fred Agbedi; state legislators; members of the state executive council; and other top government functionaries and dignitaries.
