As more important Niger Deltans mourn the demise of the Ijaw hero, 97-year-old Edwin Clark, another prominent Nigerian, Festus Porbeni, a retired rear admiral and onetime Minister of Transportation, has pointed out the strong attributes of the outspoken patriot.
In a statement in Port Harcourt, Porbeni, who is a former Nigeria ambassador to Romania and Equatorial Guinea, expressed deep sorrow over the death of another elder statesman who he described as a great leader of Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), who passed away on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
Porbeni described Clark as a father figure in Ijaw land. He recalled how he (Porbeni) alongside his late father (NK Porbeni) welcomed Clark and his elder sister (Queen Agama-nee Porbeni), a professional nurse who studied in London, when they (Clark and Agama) returned from London to Effurin in Delta State in the 1960s after their studies with Ijaw traditional dance troupe.
Read also: Fubara, Oborevwori, Dakuku, and NDDC’s Ogbuku mourn Edwin Clark
In the press statement, Porbeni described Clark as a strong and extraordinary Nigerian patriot who he said served the nation with dedication as a federal commissioner for information and later as a leader of PANDEF.
According to Porbeni, the late sage’s voice resonated not just for the Niger Delta, but for all of Nigeria. He said: “As a lawyer, educationist, and elder statesman, Clark’s interventions on national issues were marked by wisdom, foresight, and a dogged commitment to national unity founded on the principles of justice and equity.”
He noted that Clark, a chief, was unwavering in his pursuit of justice, equity, and true federalism, emphasizing that his life exemplified the importance of building bridges across ethnic and regional lines for the collective good of the nation.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
