Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
Managing Director of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), Prince Ebitimi Amgbare has joined other Ijaw leaders to mourn the death of their father and mentor Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark.
The renowned Nigerian statesman and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) E. K. Clark passed away Monday at the ripe age of 97, according to a prominent family member Prof. C. C. Clark.
Prince Amgbare described the demise of the nonagenarian as a collosal loss not only to the peoples of the South-South geopolitical zone but also to the entire Nigerian State.
The NDBDA boss noted that the late elder statesman was a towering figure in both national and sub-national politics as he contributed immensely to the political development of the two spheres through the various significant positions he held.
He catalogued the various roles the deceased played while alive to include commissioner for education in the Mid-Western Region from 1968 to 1971, commissioner for finance and establishment in the defunct Bendel State between 1972 to 1975, First Republic federal commissioner for information in 1975, member of Greater Nigeria Conference (GNC),
a pan-Nigeria dialogue organised by a global Igbo Think-Tank, Nzuko Umunna in 2022 in Abuja.
The late Clark was also an elected senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between 1979 and 1983.
Prince Amgbare further described Chief Clark as a foremost Ijaw leader given his full commitment to the emancipation of the Izons from economic and political oppression as well as his determined peace building efforts within the Niger Delta region.
The NDBDA chief recalled Clark’s recent effort towards reconciling Governor Siminalaye Fubara and his erstwhile political godfather and minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike by setting up a reconciliation committee headed by His Excellency Victor Attah via the PANDEF platform.
Late E. K. Clark was a famous lawyer, administrator, nationalist, freedom fighter and peace builder.
