SINCE the news of his demise hit the airwaves in Nigeria, encomiums have continued to pour in for late Chief Dr. Senator Edwin Kiagbodo Clark. He passed away Monday, February 17, 2025 after a life that spanned 97 years on earth. His was indeed, a life well spent. The chief, who became better known as Ijaw national leader, meant different things to different persons, in and out of government.
Put simply, Clark was clerical in his approach to national issues. He never got bodered about whose ox was gored in his submissions. He spoke in manners that often left him clearly understood. And his major areas of concern included corruption, injustice, marginalisation of the minorities, education and good governance amongst others.
Born in his native town of Kiagbodo, he attended and concluded his primary education at African Church School, Effurun before procceeding to Government Teacher Training College, Abraka in the old Mid West Region (now, Edo and Delta States) for his studies in education. He taught in many schools for some years before leaving Nigeria for Britain, where he obtained a degree in law from Horborn College of Law before returning home to join the patriotic efforts of others in his generation to make Nigeria a progressive country.
As the Nigeria-Biafra war raged, Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, then a colonel and governor of Midwest State appointed him to the position of Commissioner for Education. He functioned credictably well on his job until 1971 when he got appointed as the Commissioner for Finance. In 1975, the lawyer was given the portfolio of Federal Information Commissioner by the then Head of state, General Yakubu Gowon. He held the position unti the 1976 military coup d’e’tat that ousted Gowon’s regime.
Not done with his interest in seeing Nigeria become what he wanted for her economically and otherwise, he contested and won election into the Nigerian senate in 1983 to represent his people of Bendel West Senatorial District.
Since then till his final departure from the earth, Clark remained resolute on his believe in Nigeria’s true independence and self reliance.
Though with no specific office, he was more or less the unofficial political adviser to his fellow Ijaw, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who became president of Nigeria for about six years. And he never relented in his efforts towards the settlement of the political imbroglio between the governor of Rivers State, Mr. Sim Fubara and his erstwhile godfather, former governor Nyesom Wike, presently serving as the nation’s minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Kiagbodo community has not been fortunate to have a Federal university attracted to her through the influence of one of her notable sons in the person of Barrister Clark, BL, LLB. But then, through personal efforts, the man provided one and aptly name it “Edwin Clark University”.
Well, in line with what awaits all humans, Chief E. K Clark has just responded to the last call for perhaps another level of service opportunities beyond the physical. He has left an indelible marks in the sands of time. As you remember him along this line, the question remains; “how will you be remembered after your own departure from the earth?”
