The remains of elder statesman, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, were interred on Tuesday in his hometown, Kiagbodo in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State amidst eulogies and commendations for virtues he lived and and stood for.
At the funeral service held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Kiagbodo, President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, said in Chief Clark’s death, Nigeria lost a man of courage and wisdom.
Tinubu said Clark was a champion of his community and country and was never afraid to stand alone when speaking truth to power.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan said Clark was a great nationalist who fought for the freedom of the people and and national pride.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the late Chief Clark has left e burden of looking for people who would step into his shoes. “He was not just a participant in the Nigerian story, he spoke even when staying silent was easier.
He urged the youths to be encouraged to learn a lesson from the principles that Clark espoused and lived by.
The Governor of Delta State, Mr. Sheriff Oborevwori, said as a teacher, politician and public servant, Chief Clark stood for governance. “For him, the call to public service is not an opportunity for personal gain but to improve lives.
“He never wavered in his crusade to reunite the Niger Delta with to a more prosperous Nigeria. He canvassed for a Niger Delta that is treated with equity,” the governor said.
The Archbishop of Ughelli Diocese, the Most Rev. C.O. Odutemu, drawing his sermon from Proverbs 22:5, said the late leader of the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta chose a good name over riches.
Also citing 1 Timothy 6:7, the bishop said Clark distinguished himself by being contented with whatever he had. “We brought nothing to this world and we will take nothing out of it,” he said.
The clergyman said the country would miss Pa Clark because he always stood by the marginalized and oppressed people. He said the late elder statesman would have spoken for Rivers State were he alive to witness the injustice that was recently committed in the state.
“Where is Pa E.K. Clark who would have spoken for Rivers people, who would have spoken for Ijaw people, who would have spoken for the Niger Delta and the ordinary people?” he asked. “Our country is sinking and people are clapping.”
Other dignitaries that attended the funeral service were the Governors of Bayelsa, Bauchi and Akwa Ibom States, Douye Diri, Bala Mohammed and Eno Umo; wife of former President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, Managing Director of NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Mrs. Cecilia Ibrus, Mr. Goodie Ibrus, the Minister of Regional Development, Mr. Abubakar Momoh, former INC President, Prof. Atuboyedia Obianime, and former Senate Minority Leader, Dr. Bennett Birabi.
The governors of Delta, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom State promised to erect a new church building for St. Paul’s Anglican Church, according to the building plans drawn by the late Chief Clark Kiagbodo, while Akpabio and the Bauchi State governor donated N50 million each to the church.
Earlier, the remains of Chief Clark were taken in a procession to the Faculty of Law of Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, where the students and staff of the university honoured the late elder statesman with performances.
Chief Clark born on May 25, 1927, died on February 17, 2025. He founded the Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo in 2015 and offered scholarship to the first 100 students of the university.
He was a teacher, civil servant, lawyer and community leader. He was the Commissioner for Education and Finance in the defunct Midwest State, a federal commissioner, a senator of the Federal Republic and founder of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum.
