Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Prominent Ijaw Leader and a former Federal Commissioner for Information, Edwin Clark is dead.
The late elder statesman died on Monday at the age of 97 years.
This was contained in a statement by the Clark-Fuludu Bekederemo family of Kiagbodo, of Delta State.
The statement read: “The family appreciates your prayers at this time. Other details will be announced later by the family,” the statement reads.
Until his passing, Clark was the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
His political career began in 1953 when he was elected councillor of Bomadi in Delta state. Clark would later join the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) political party.
He served as Midwestern Commissioner of education and later finance between 1966 and 1975.
Clark pitched tent with the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the Second Republic and was treasurer of the party in the old Bendel State.
The outspoken Ijaw leader and critic was senator for three months in 1983 during the Shehu Shagari administration.
Clark spent the rest of his life advocating for the rights and development of the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
Chief Clark was among prominent Nigerians who supported power shift to the South-East in 2023 to give the zone a sense of belonging.
He was a strong supporter of Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
