The leadership of E.K. Clark Solidarity For Good Governance and the executive members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Warri Branch, have paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Chief Dr. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark at his country home in Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

Speaking after signing the condolence register, High Chief Mike U. Usige, JP, FCIA, the BoT Chairman of E.K. Clark Solidarity For Good Governance, described the late elder statesman as a national leader and an icon of truth, equity, justice, and fairness. He noted that the organization was a product of Chief Clark’s vision, stating:

“Papa Clark lived a fulfilled life and was the voice of the voiceless. We are proud of him because E.K. Clark Solidarity For Good Governance is truly a baby of Chief Dr. E.K. Clark. His ideals and legacies will live on till eternity.”

The group’s Coordinator, Prince Akpo Abugo, spoke with deep emotion, describing the late Chief Clark as a father figure whose impact on his life was immeasurable.

“The late elder statesman made me who I am today. Since I met him, he changed my story to glory. Chief Dr. E.K. Clark did not discriminate; he supported and lifted many. His passing is a personal loss to me, and his absence leaves a vacuum that will be difficult to fill. He was truly the father of the Niger Delta and the voice of the voiceless.”

Clark Was a Great Pillar of NBA – Okpakpor
On his part, Othadua A. Okpakpor, Esq., Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Warri Branch, extolled the late Chief Clark as a formidable force in Nigeria’s legal profession. He revealed that the late elder statesman was the first elected Secretary of the NBA Warri Branch, describing him as the branch’s “engine room” in its formative years.

“Late Chief Dr. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark was a great pillar of the NBA nationwide. He was a dogged fighter for justice who spoke truth to power. His contributions to our history book in NBA Warri Branch are immense, and his legacy will forever remain in the annals of the legal profession. We were deeply saddened by his passing because he was a repository of knowledge and wisdom.”

To honor his remarkable contributions, Okpakpor announced that the NBA Warri Branch would hold a full valedictory service in his memory, as he was a proud member of the noble legal profession.

During the visit, Okpakpor presented a condolence letter on behalf of the NBA Warri Branch to Chief Clark’s daughter, Mrs. Rebecca Clark Okorodudu, who was flanked by Dr. Alfred Mulade and other family members.

A Life Worthy of Celebration
In her vote of thanks, Mrs. Rebecca Clark Okorodudu expressed profound gratitude to the E.K. Clark Solidarity For Good Governance and the NBA Warri Branch for their visit and glowing tributes. She acknowledged her father’s lasting legacy, noting that he was a father to many and a champion of justice and integrity.

“Papa did not lobby for appointments. Instead, because of his unwavering truth, justice, and integrity, he was called to serve Nigeria in various capacities. He was a detribalized leader whose impact was felt across the nation. My father started his legal chambers on Robert Road, Warri, and while he wished for me to be a lawyer, my inclination was towards mathematics.”

Clark’s Impact on Nigeria and the Niger Delta
Earlier in his welcome speech, Dr. Alfred Mulade, former Registrar of the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, and former National Secretary of PANDEF, highlighted that Chief Clark instructed his family and associates not to mourn but to celebrate his legacy.

“Papa was a man who could not be pinned down. He was always ready to contribute to the development of Nigeria. He supported every good cause and condemned anything unjust. That was the philosophy that metamorphosed into his book, Brutally Frank.”

Dr. Mulade recalled that Chief Clark’s last words were:

“I am a Nigerian, I love Nigeria, I am proud to be a Nigerian.”

He emphasized that Chief Clark was not a pretender and had strong relationships across all geopolitical zones of Nigeria. He was instrumental in educational development in the North, with many Northern leaders regarding him as a mentor. Similarly, in the South-East, a house named ‘Clark House’ was dedicated to him in recognition of his contributions to the 3R policy of Reconciliation, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation after the civil war.

Mulade further revealed that Chief Clark, in his commitment to national unity, relocated one of his daughters from the comfort of St. Theresa Grammar School to Queen’s School, Enugu, after the war.

“He was a leader who believed in one Nigeria. He was a voice for the oppressed and a beacon of hope for the Niger Delta people and beyond. His sacrifices for national unity and progress will never be forgotten.”