Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria – Former President Goodluck Jonathan and Bayelsa State Governor Senator Douye Diri led a host of dignitaries on Monday to pay tributes to the late Ijaw leader Pa Edwin Clark during his lying-in-state and commendation service.
Prominent Ijaw leaders, including former Bayelsa Governor Senator Seriake Dickson and Ijaw National Congress President Prof. Benjamin Okaba, convened to celebrate the life and legacy of the revered elder statesman, who passed away on February 17, 2024, at the age of 97.
Jonathan hailed Clark as a selfless leader dedicated to service, urging the Ijaw people to remember him by promoting unity among all clans and communities. “Key for us is to unite and not discriminate among ourselves,” Jonathan said. “Clark was a face of not just the Ijaw nation, but also the Niger Delta and other marginalised groups.”
Governor Diri praised Clark’s steadfast commitment to justice, development, and the Ijaw cause. He declared the establishment of a committee to explore naming significant streets and structures after Clark and other Ijaw heroes, including Jonathan and Dickson, as a means of preserving their legacies. “We are not mourning, but celebrating a man of great deeds,” Diri stated. “Pa Clark often emphasised unity, progress, and collective development of our people.”
Former Governor Dickson remarked on Clark’s influence that transcended ethnic lines, calling him a respected national voice. “The Ijaw nation has lost one of its finest. He lived and died in service to his people,” Dickson said.
Prof. Okaba referred to Clark as a fearless defender of the oppressed and a unifying figure for the Niger Delta. “His legacy transcends politics. He reminded us all of our responsibility in building a just Nigeria,” he noted.
King Bubaraye Dakolo, Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, remarked that Clark’s advocacy for justice was unmatched. “He was Nigeria’s loudest voice for truth and equity,” Dakolo added.
PANDEF National Chairman Dr. Godknows Igali revealed that in his final days, Clark urged the Ijaw people to stay united and resilient.
Jonathan Lokpobiri, President of the Ijaw Youth Council, hailed Clark as an icon whose influence on the Ijaw struggle and national matters will always be remembered. “He embodied the essence of the Ijaw man and never wavered in his convictions,” he said.
During the service, Clark’s first son, Pinaowei Clark, read a Bible lesson from Ecclesiastes 3:1-6. Among those present were Bayelsa State Deputy Governor Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, former First Lady Patience Jonathan, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and Dr. Fred Agbedi, representing Sagbama-Ekeremor Federal Constituency.
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