BY OSABUOHIEN VIVIAN ROSE
The leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Edwin Clark has died. He was 97.
The death of the former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South leader was confirmed by a family representative, Prof. C. C. Clark, on Tuesday.
The statement read, “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.
Born in Kiagbodo, in the Ijaw area of what is now Delta State, late Clark attended primary and secondary schools at Effurun, Okrika and Afugbene before completing further studies at the Government Teacher Training College, which later became Delta State University, Abraka. Thereafter, he worked briefly as a school teacher before traveling abroad to earn a law degree.
“He worked with the administrations of military governor Samuel Ogbemudia and head of state, General Yakubu Gowon between 1966 and 1975. In 1966, 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.
“May his soul rest in peace, Amen.”
Clark was a leading voice for regional and national unity. He was also known for mediating peace among warring communities and politicians in the Niger Delta region.
“The family appreciates your prayers at this time. Other details will be announced later by the family.”
Last October, he set up a committee to reconcile Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his erstwhile political godfather Nyesom Wike.
The committee was headed by former Akwa Ibom Governor Obong Victor Attah, Co-Chairman, Pandef BOT.
Clark’s demise comes barely four days after the demise of Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the leader of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group.
Both statesmen were known to be leading voices in the political development of the country.
Both joined other patriots to attend the Greater Nigeria Conference, which was held in Abuja in 2022 to deliberate on the emergence of the next Nigerian President from the South-East.
In November 2023, they, alongside other and other eminent leaders of thought, renewed the calls for the restructuring of the country to achieve a true federal structure.
