By PRINCE AKPO-ABUGO
The passage of Chief Edwin Clark came as shock to many of us. This is because he was active, keeping his usual routine of work ethics, waking up early, observing his morning prayers, taking his bath and dressing up, going through daily newspapers, seeing visitors who came with one problem or the other, and attending to various local issues.
He also took keen interest in watching the television channels to keep abreast of current happenings, calling on his aides for one issue or the other. This is beside the fact that he made out time in writing books, especially the latest, The History of Warri, which is yet to be published.
Indeed, Edwin Clark’s daily routine was usually tight that he had little or no time to rest, as he was often occupied even to the wee hours of the next day. Throughout the day he was either at his office or talking to various ethnic, political, social and traditional leaders across the South-South on issues bordering on unity, understanding and common purpose affecting the region.
Papa Clark was 97 years old but in intellect and work ethics, he didn’t look that age; he looked like a young man on mission of redemption. Clark was a colossus who used his connections to benefit ordinary Nigerians rather than self or family. He was disciplined and abhored corruption, nepotism, tribalism and oppression. These attributes endeared him to the people; he was bold, courageous and firm; there can never be another Edwin Kiagbodo Clark.
We may not see another Edwin Clark because we don’t have a strong national voice or regional voice in anyone in the South-South as we had in Chief E.K. Clark. When Rivers State was under crisis towards the end of the administrations of former Governors Peter Odili and Celestine Omehia, many were afraid to speak out. But Clark mobilised political leaders across the South-South, including Rivers State, to the Presidential Villa at the invitation of the late President Musa Yar’Adua. Chief Clark did not waste time to tell President Yar’Adua to declare a state of emergency in that state. He also went on to present a detailed evidence to Mr. President, including the names of the political leaders who were responsible for the political violence and killings in Rivers State. A shocked President Yar’Ardua was speechless, and while thanking Chief Clark promised to act on his recommendations.
Another incident was the Gbaramatu invasion from air, sea and land by the Nigerian military during the regime of President Olusegun Obasanjo which declared Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, wanted over killings of military personnel. It was a scenario where I saw a man’s love for his people and determination to save them. Apart from issuing press releases, he picked his phone to reach out to President Obasanjo, the Chief of Defense Staff and other top officers of the military, admonishing them not to destroy the community because of misdeeds of a few, insisting on the rule of law.
Clark was loved by ordinary Nigerians who are daily victims of bad governance that has become their lot. But he was hated by the corrupt political leaders and aristocrats who are beneficiary of the corrupt institution in Nigeria. Clark was a torn in their flesh and he spared no one when it came to corruption because he understood the danger corruption posed to our development.
Clark attributed poor family health system, falling standard of education, bad roads, communal crisis, among others, to corruption.
As a sage, he had his disciples in the South-South and beyond who would give him feedbacks on unfolding developments in the country.
He cherished his roots, both maternally and paternally, and was able to trace and tap his biological lineages in most communities in Delta State and beyond. His sharp intellect was always evident as he could state the facts, dates and events accurately. Clark attained Olympian height in all areas of life but relied heavily on relationship. On daily basis, he woud reach out to solve problems, and till he passed on many children were on his scholarship. He never discriminated and his residences in Abuja, Warri and Lagos were open for many he never knew.
Most of the leaders we have today are opportunists who inherited the strong political bases of loyalists and disciples left behind by Edwin Clark. Who in the South-South can command the same respected voice that Clark once used to speak for the people of the zone and even beyond? Who will come to our rescue when the politics of oil becomes an issue in Abuja and the powers that be decide to use divide and rule tactics to divide the South-South so as continue exploitation of oil? Who will caution political actors and politicians to adhere to rule of law in governance of their various constituencies? Who will be there to speak the bitter truth to politicians, governors and confront them over their excesses?
Nigerians will miss Clark but fraudulent Nigerians will not; fraudulent Nigerians will praise Clark in the open, eulogies him during condolence visits but in their hidden closets will celebrate Clark’s passage as a timely blessing because he was the greatest threat to their political rascality, social and financial plundering of resources. But if these political leaders love him as they profess why not implement his ideas and recommendations for a better society?
South-South without Edwin Clark will be another Kashmir, a tripod of superiority of one against another, to sustain crisis for personal benefits. E.K. Clark was called Ijaw national leader by the Ijaws across the South-South states and he merited it. Clark understood the environment of every Ijaw community; he was an Isoko leader because he kept his maternal contacts in Isoko from Okpaigie-Iyede; he kept his bloodline in Itsekiri, Bayelsa, Rivers and beyond. Clark made the difference between sycophantic rodents, opportunists that populated the region and service to the people; Clark was a restraining voice against violence; his voice of courage, wisdom and reason was what fostered peace.
We lost a genuine leader who didn’t play politics with peoples’ hopes and aspirations; he was there for the people. Political leaders who love Clark should go beyond showmanship laced with deceit and political profiteering to understanding what made the man, tapping his ideas for a better society and harvesting his core loyalists to sustain good governance and a better society. Any political leader who loves Clark must fight corruption because it’s the root of all the recklessness and illegality that still haunt Nigeria.
We have so much wealth but nothing to show for it except poverty; we need a Nigeria where competence becomes the consideration, a Nigeria of nationhood not tribes, a Nigeria of justice not injustice, a functional nation through restructuring where everyone is proud to harvest his/her potentials for the collective greatness of Nigeria.
But I am consoled by the Clark’s admonitions and stoic disposition over the loss of a loved one: “God did not write a letter to our parents before we were born and would not do same when He deems it fit to call anyone”. When he celebrated his 80th birthday, he said at several occasions: “I have bought my ticket, waiting for my boarding pass to board”. Clark was always ready for this and he did his best for Nigeria.
His voice was a torrent against moles, political bats and sycophants who feed on our common wealth. Clark was everything a good leader should be to a responsive society. Clark’s greatest investment is the ordinary people he uplifted in private and public service. In politics, he was a benevolent, merciful, a strong cleansing wind and chastening voice against injustice.
Clark at 97 years lived a productive life of longevity. But because of his activities and relevance, many saw his departure as gone too soon.
I pray the good spirit of Edwin Clark will continue to intercede for Nigeria and his true followers who may bear the pain, sadness and bereavement of his sudden passage have caused. Adieu Papa Clark, rest in peace.
Prince Akpo-Abugo Wrote from Uzere, Delta State.
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