PANDEF leader, Edwin Clark, dies at 97

Edwin Clark, the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, passed away.

A family spokesman, Prof. C. C. Clark, acknowledged the death of the former South-South leader and Federal Commissioner for Information, who was 97 years old, in a statement on Tuesday.

"The family of Kiagbodo Town, Delta State's Clark-Fuludu Bekederemo would like to announce the passing of Chief (Dr.) Sen. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark OFR, CON on Monday, February 17, 2025," the statement said.

"The family is grateful for your prayers during this difficult time. The family will make other announcements later.

Afenifere leader Pa Ayo Adebanjo passed just a few days ago at the age of 96, and Clark's death follows his loss.

Adebanjo and Clark are both renowned for their contributions to the political development of the country.

In 2022, Adebanjo and Clark attended the Greater Nigeria Conference, which was held in Abuja to deliberate on the emergence of the next Nigerian president from the Southeast.

The GNC was a pan-Nigeria dialogue organised by a global Igbo think tank, Nzuko Umunna, to canvass support for a presidential candidate from the region during the 2023 general elections.

A towering figure in Nigerian politics and a relentless advocate for the rights of the Niger Delta, Clark was a lawyer, administrator, nationalist, and freedom fighter.
From 1968 to 1971, he was the Mid-Western Region's Commissioner for Education. From 1972 to 1975, he was the former Bendel State's Commissioner for Finance and Establishment.

He was named Commissioner for Information at the federal level in 1975, and from 1979 to 1983, he served as a Senator.

Clark was a prominent advocate for national and regional unity outside of his political career. In the Niger Delta, he was renowned for mediating peace between politicians and warring people.

In an effort to patch things up between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his former political godfather, Nyesom Wike, he recently established a committee.

Former Akwa Ibom Governor Obong Victor Attah served as the committee's leader, and Pandef BOT served as its co-chairman.

This was stated in a statement released during the group's extraordinary General Assembly on October 24, 2024, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.