Just a few years ago, Nigeria enjoyed the wisdom of four outstanding nonagenarians representing her four cardinal points. From the East came Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, a former Aviation Minister; from the West was Pa Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Yoruba Afenifere. From the North was Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, a Federal Parliamentarian in the 1950s and from the South (Niger Delta) came Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, a former Senator and Minister of Information.

Though they projected the unique viewpoints of their regions, they were strong patriots whose voices balanced the Nigerian equation. Today, only the oldest of them all – Pa Yakassai (who incidentally will mark his 100th birthday in December this year) – remains standing.

Chief Clark, the undisputed Ijaw leader, joined his ancestors on February 17, 2025 aged 97. To some, he was an ethnic (Ijaw) leader. He came out boldly and claimed that position during the militancy in the Niger Delta and the Warri ethnic crises (1998 and 2010).

The Ijaw, a minority ethnic group which inhabits the coasts and creeks of Nigeria, are indigenous to Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Ondo, Edo and Akwa Ibom states. Clark took control of the leadership to ensure their common approach. It enabled the Ijaw to engage the Nigerian establishment with vigour and advocate for their economic, security and political interests.

Clark’s leadership fetched Ijaw many benefits. These included the emergence of Dr Goodluck Jonathan as Vice President and later, President of Nigeria. Clark’s Ijaw leadership was also instrumental to the late President Umaru Yar’ Adua’s offer of presidential amnesty and the establishment of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, which operates till date.

The current peace that exists in the Niger Delta and the oil producing areas owes much to his moderating influence. He impacted strongly on the political, economic and security well-being of Nigeria and thus earned his plaudits as a national leader.

Clark as a former Minister and Senator, helped shape the destiny of the nation. However, where his image loomed largest was his advocacy, in the last decade of his life, for a just and equitable Nigeria as the panacea for unity and national development. His leadership of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, placed him squarely as the zone’s defender in much the same fashion as the leaders of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Afenifere Yoruba, Middle Belt Forum and Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF.

As a campaigner for equity, Clark once declared: “This country we are in is a country for all Nigerians. No one owns it more than the other. We are equal citizens in Nigeria. Unity does not mean you must be superior to the other. Then you won’t have a country”.

He was laid to rest yesterday, May 13, 2025 in his home town, Kiagbodo in Burutu LGA of Delta State. We thank him for his service to Nigeria and bid him farewell.