Respected leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, and former federal commissioner of information, Chief (Dr.) Sen. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark OFR, CON, author of the book, "Brutally Frank: The Autobiography of Edwin Kiagbodo Clark", who passed away at the age of 97 years, will be laid to rest in his hometown, Kiagbodo in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, after a week-long itinerary of funeral rites on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

As Nigerians prepare to bid final farewell to a man that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described in his message of condolence on February 18, 2025, as a "towering figure whose influence was felt across Nigeria’s political firmament for nearly six decades", I somberly reflect and weigh in on the vacuum of his absence in a country that is widely polarised by ethnicity, religion and politics.

Pa Clark, when alive, stayed the course in advocating for the development and against the marginalization of the region. Though a national leader in the Ijaw Nation, his advocacy however extended beyond ethnic lines, which revealed he was not a tribalistic leader but a national leader as evidenced in his position in the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF.

Buttressing the above, President Tinubu, in his condolence said, "Chief Clark spoke for the Niger Delta. He spoke for the nation. His views and interventions on national issues were distinct and patriotic. Pa Clark, a lawyer and educationist, believed in a united Nigeria, and until his last breath, he never stopped reaching out to people from different parts of the country to work together to preserve national unity based on justice and equity."

But above all, Pa. Clark was a man who spoke truth to power fearlessly as captured by the President when he wrote, "Chief Clark was a courageous leader who stood for what he believed in and was never afraid to stand alone in the face of injustice... History will remember him as a man who fought gallantly for the rights of the people of the Niger Delta, unity in diversity, and true federalism."

The elder statesman coined his autobiography with the title "Brutally Frank" in demonstration of his dogged stand to national issues. The book is said to be brutally frank because Clark does not shy away from speaking his mind on controversial matters, even if it means criticizing those in power or offending some people.

This truthful nature of Pa. Clark was not surprising as the Ijaw National leader lived his life in reflection of what "Ijaw" stands for—TRUTH! The book, which covers Clark’s personal and political journey from his childhood to his role in the Nigerian civil war, his relationship with various leaders and presidents, his views on national issues, and his vision for the future of Nigeria, was launched in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja on August 17, 2023.

Pa. Clark first made public the memoir, Brutally Frank, a year before his passing, during his 96th Birthday Thanksgiving service conducted by the St. James’ Anglican Church, Asokoro, presided over by Archbishop, Metropolitan, Primate of All Nigeria and Bishop of Abuja, His Grace, the Most Revd. Henry Ndukuba.

Even in his announcing the memoir, he was still brutally frank when he said: “I have written a book, some people might want to take me to court but that is the truth. You can’t kill the truth. I am a Nigerian, I won’t keep quiet when Nigerians are suffering. If Nigeria is not standing properly there will be no peace. Why is it that a region is not having five states, others are having four, one having seven?”

Acknowledging Pa. Clark's stand on professing truth, His Grace, the Most Revd. Ndukuba hailed him for walking the path of truth for many years, when he said: “A word from you is a like a torch in the dark, your torch will never go down. It will continue to shine and glorify your Father in heaven. Speak when you want to speak, speak what you want to say and allow God to do the rest. To other Nigerians, give to your immediate environment and make it better than the way you met it. God gave you to glory of God, do not be afraid. This is one man when he rings his bell everyone will hear. Until Nigeria becomes a better place, a pride of the world, we will not rest. May God make you more relevant and through you others will be relevant,” he prayed.

Barely a year later, the elder statesman breathed his last on February 17, 2025, at his Asokoro home in Abuja. Pa. Clark, the Ebi-Ebekekere Owei of Western Ijaw in Delta State, died four days after another compatriot and ally in the struggle for a dream Nigeria, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, who passed away at the age of 96.

According to the family in a statement released by his son, Chief Clark Ebikeme, Pa. Clark's burial programme will span over a week, and will commence Wednesday (May 7) with a public lecture at the NAF Conference Centre & Suites in Abuja at 11a.m., a valedictory session at the Senate Chamber on Thursday (May 8), a day of tributes at the NAF Conference Centre on Friday (May 9) at 3p.m., a wrestling contest in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, alongside a Service of Songs at St. James’ Anglican Church, Asokoro, Abuja, at 5p.m. on Saturday (May 10).

A cultural festivities in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and in Yenagoa, as well as a candlelight memorial in the evening in both Abuja and Kiagbodo on Sunday (May 11), a Commendation service will be held at the National Christian Centre in Abuja, followed by a valedictory court session at the High Court of Justice in Warri on Monday (May 12). Later that day, the late elder statesman’s body will be flown to Yenagoa for another Commendation at Ijaw House, before heading to Warri for a lying-in-state and then onward to Kiagbodo for a night vigil.

The final funeral rites will be conducted on Tuesday (May 13), beginning with a lying-in-state and Commendation service at Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, and a funeral service, interment, and reception, and ending with Thanksgiving service on Sunday (May 18) in honour of the elder statesman and national leader.

Will there be another like Pa. Clark? Granted that everyone is distinct, however, the Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large need the likes of Pa. Clark to speak truth to power to those in authority without compromising their stand. The region need a detribalised, national leader and patriotic citizen in the likes of Pa. Clark to serve as a unifier and a mirror of reflection to society.

Nigerians and the world at large will continue to remember Pa. Clark for what he stands for. And as the President recalled, Pa. Clark "led an illustrious life marked by dedicated service, at different times, to the nation and his community as a councillor, state and federal cabinet member. He was also a passionate advocate for resource control, economic and environmental justice in the Niger Delta. I know many generations will remain proud of how his efforts contributed to national prosperity and stability" sums it all for the elder statesman whose shoes will take great courage to fill.

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