Prominent Niger Delta leader and elder statesman, Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, has passed away at the age of 97. His death was confirmed on Tuesday in a statement from the Clark-Fuludu Bekederemo family, signed by Prof. C. C. Clark. The statement noted that Clark died on Monday, 17th February 2025, and that further details would be announced later.
Clark’s passing comes shortly after the death of Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, aged 96. The two leaders were renowned for their contributions to Nigeria’s political development and advocacy for regional unity. In 2022, they jointly attended the Greater Nigeria Conference to support the emergence of a Southeast presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections.
A veteran politician and advocate for the Niger Delta, Clark served as Commissioner for Education in the Mid-Western Region (1968-1971), Commissioner for Finance in Bendel State (1972-1975), and Federal Commissioner for Information (1975). He was also a Senator from 1979 to 1983.
In recent years, Clark continued his role as a peacemaker, notably establishing a committee led by former Akwa Ibom Governor, Obong Victor Attah, to reconcile Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Nyesom Wike in Rivers State.
Clark’s death marks the end of an era, leaving a legacy of advocacy for regional rights, national unity, and political integrity.
