Edwin Clark: The fearless voice of Niger Delta goes silent after 97 years

Pan Niger Delta Forum leader, Edwin Clark, is dead.

He died on Monday at the age of 97.

His death was confirmed in a statement on Tuesday morning by a family representative, Prof. C. C. Clark.

The PANDEF also issued an official announcement, signed by its spokesman, Obiuwevbi Ominimini.

The statement was jointly released by Professor College Clark of the Clark-Fuludu-Bakederemo family and Ambassador Dr. Godknows Igali, the National Chairman of PANDEF.

Clark was a Nigerian nationalist, elder statesman, lawyer and an influential political leader from the Niger Delta.

He was widely recognised for his unwavering advocacy for the region’s rights and development and his significant contributions to Nigeria’s political landscape.

Clark was born on May 25, 1927, in Kiagbodo, Delta State.

Clark began his schooling at African Church School in 1938 and later attended Government Teachers Training College, Abraka.

Between 1961 and 1964, he studied law at Holborn College, United Kingdom.

Clark’s political journey began in 1953 when he was elected a councillor in Bomadi (now in Delta State).

Over the years, he held several key government positions, including: Commissioner for Education (Mid-Western Region, 1968-1971)

Commissioner for Finance and Establishment (Bendel State, 1972-1975)

Federal Commissioner for Information under General Yakubu Gowon (1975)

As Commissioner for Education, he played a pivotal role in establishing the Mid-West Institute of Technology, which later became the University of Benin.

Clark was a powerful voice for the Niger Delta, advocating for better resource control; environmental protection; and economic development for the region.

He was a key figure in the Pan Niger Delta Forum and the Ijaw National Congress, consistently fighting for policies that favoured the region’s growth.

Believing in the power of education, he founded Edwin Clark University in Kiagbodo, Delta State, to nurture future generations.

His influence in Nigeria’s politics spanned decades and he remained a respected elder statesman until his death on February 17, 2025.

Clark leaves behind a legacy of advocacy, education and an unrelenting pursuit of justice and equity for both the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.

PUNCH