BY KINGSLEY OJOUGBOH Esq.
CHIEF Dr. Senator Edwin Kiagbodo Clark (OFR) attained the lofty age of 97 on the 25th day of May 2024 in health and strength. To God be the glory for this rare gift to a rare gift to Nigeria. This milestone has elicited plaudits, encomiums and accolades from many prominent and well- meaning Nigerians as well as institutions across the country.
He truly and richly deserves all the plaudits, encomiums and accolades as well as warmest regards rained on him for his immense contribution to the growth and development of our beloved country Nigeria as he celebrates this land mark of attaining the lofty age of 97.
Chief E.K. Clark’s contribution to the growth and development of Nigeria is monumental, palpable, exemplary and commendable. We can pay him no better tribute than to emulate his sterling qualities as well as tap from his wisdom in order to put this country blessed with abundant human and material resources on irreversible path of growth and development to restore us to a pride of place in the comity of nations.
Chief E.K. Clark as he is fondly called, known and addressed is a man of many parts in and outside government. He is an enigma, administrator, author, lawyer, elder statesmen, foremost nationalist, former senator (1979-1983), former politician, former federal commissioner for information under former Nigerian Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, former Commissioner for Education as well as former Commissioner for finance and establishment (1968-1975) under late Brigadier General Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia the former military Governor of defunct Midwest State, former teacher, former Pro Chancellor Federal University of Technology Minna Niger State.
At present, the highly revered elder statesman is the south-south Leader, Leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) Chairman Board of Trustees Ijaw National Congress (INC), Ijaw National leader, leader South South Peoples Assembly (SSPA), leader Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) founder and Chancellor Edwin Clark University (ECU) a private university he licensed in 2015 named after him.
The foremost nationalist and quintessence legend has remained a fiery advocate of true fiscal federalism as a way out of our socio-economic and political quagmire. He is an irrepressible and fiery social and justice crusader, as well as the voice of the voiceless the oppressed and a famous philanthropist in Nigeria. He is also an anti-corruption crusader as well as a detribalized Nigerian. While commending His Excellency Governor Francis Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State for approving the construction of three flyovers in Effurun and Warri axis the south south leader urged him to extend same gesture to other parts of the state.
The famous south-south leader and former senator of the federal republic of Nigeria is not only a reporter’s delight, he is also a reader’s delight because of his fiery advocates and wonderful submissions. He is bold, fearless, courageous, brave, suave and forthright always analyzing emphasizing and constructively criticizing issues of national importance and proferring panacea. He speaks truth to power with uncommon, guts and condor hence he wrote his latest book “BRUTALLY FRANK” a book I am desperate to see and read.
He is a rallying point on the discussions on national issues because his postulations, views and pronouncements are highly respected and cherished as they are bereft of any scintilla of ulterior motive or selfish interest. They are definitely the way out of our plethora of social, political and economic debacle besetting us as a nation. We are a nation that has reached a turning point and refused to turn as we have consistently and persistently shunned true fiscal federalism being stridently advocated by Chief E.K Clark and frustrated for selfish and sectional interest of the ruling class.
There is no doubt that his legacies will endure from generation to generation. As a philanthropist he provides for many indigent persons as well as undergraduates through his scholarship scheme. The outstanding contributions of the highly revered South-south leader to his country and some educational institutes are not unnoticed and unrewarded by his country and these institutions hence he was honored with the national honors of OFR and CFR by his country and LLD by some of these educational institutions.
In April 2024 the elder statesman said he was a fulfilled man to witness the private university he opened in 2015 Edwin Clark University (ECU) as his legacy, grow to gain recognition among Nigerian Universities as the university was ranked 25th among 200 universities. According to him, he was responsible for the opening of the University of Benin as commissioner for education under Brigadier General Samuel Ogbemudia and that the faculty of management science of the university was named after him on the 28th day of May 2014.
In the thanksgiving service to mark his 97th birthday on the 26th day of May 2024, Chief E.K Clark again called for the restructuring of Nigeria as the constitution of Nigeria is being reviewed. Hear them “This country must be restructured. President Bola Tinubu must face the political problem of this country for the development of all regions. This country has to be restructured so that everybody will be equal so that every person can aspire to the position he wants to be”. He also expressed joy and said he felt very happy, very much reassured and very much fulfilled about his own life and gave glory to the Almighty God for attaining the age at 97. He also thanked those who are taking care of his welfare, security as well as all Nigerians.
Some couple of years ago he announced that he was already at the ‘departure lounge’ which means he was about to board and “fly home”. Dear Chief, God has cancelled your flight and sent you back from the departure lounge according to his will and has rescheduled your flight for many more years to come for the benefit of your benefactors and the country.
He wants us to continue to tap from your wisdom and show us the light for the overall advancement of this country. God also wants us to continue to draw from your milk of human kindness as you have proved that as you are getting older you are getting wiser more intelligent, bolder and more brutally frank. Sometimes, God gives a nation wise people for its growth and development like Chief E.K. Clark for which we are grateful to God.
We should learn to appreciate and honour our legends while they are still alive not only when they are gone. This great Nigerian deserves many more honors and tribute from the people of this country for his immense contribution to the growth and development of Nigeria. Public institutions should be named after him while he is still alive. His presence in public elicits animated ambience. We need many more E.K. Clark for the good of this country.
May each day of your years ahead be wonderful and bring the same joy to your heart as you are doing to all those around you. May you stay long in the “departure lounge” in good health and strength and remain more brutality frank.
