President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has assured that the Nigerian Senate will play an active role in the burial of the late elder statesman, Pa Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, who passed away on Monday.
Akpabio made this known on Wednesday while receiving a delegation from the Pan Niger Delta Forum, led by its National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali. The delegation visited him to formally inform the Senate of Clark’s demise.
The Senate President revealed that the upper legislative chamber had already observed a minute of silence in honour of the former senator before the PANDEF delegation’s visit.
“We couldn’t even wait for you to let us know that he was gone. We agreed to send a strong delegation to come and condole with you, condole with the immediate family and the good people of Ijaw nation, Niger Delta as a whole and other Nigerians and for the Senate to take part in all the burial activities. So we intend to be there.
“So on this note, I welcome you. We have received the news now formally and I want to thank you for the honour that you have done to the National Assembly by coming as a delegation to let us know that yes indeed, our father is gone. The father of Nigeria. One of those who have made Nigeria what it is.
“I assure you of our total readiness to cooperate with you and all well-meaning Nigerians and because this is a great loss to Nigeria, not just to the Niger Delta region,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President described Clark as a Pan-Africanist and an iconic leader who dedicated his life to advocating for the welfare of minority groups across Nigeria.
“Pa Edwin Clark was not just any Nigerian. He was a Pan Africanist. We describe him as an iconic leader. We describe him also as a detribalised Nigerian who fought particularly for the welfare of the minorities across Nigeria, not just in the Niger Delta.
“He wanted a better country. He wanted an inclusive country. He wanted a country where every minority could have a sense of belonging and say yes, this is my country. I am proud of my country.
“And today to hear that at the age of 97, almost 98, he lived with his principles intact and on his passage, all he could mutter was ‘I love Nigeria,’ ‘I am a Nigerian.’ I think one can write a PhD thesis out of that. That was the summary of his life. From the time he was born until the time he left.
“That exclamation was to remind you and all of us alive that we must continue to exhibit the best virtues. We must not lose faith no matter what is happening. No matter the travails that we are passing through today. We must love Nigeria. We must believe in Nigeria.”
Speaking on behalf of PANDEF, Ambassador Igali said the delegation was at the National Assembly to inform Akpabio, as the most senior politician from the South-South, of Chief Edwin Clark’s passing.
“We thought it is only proper and fit that having been a Senator himself, a senior politician, an elder statesman of this country, it is right that we come to inform you.
“Besides the fact that he was from your part of the country, he was very close to you. When he was ill, we informed you. Papa was not sick for a long time.
“Up to two months ago, Papa was hale and hearty but we observed there was a gradual wind down… But two weeks ago, the wind continued.
“Last Sunday, I was there, sitting with his nurse, and he exclaimed: ‘I love Nigeria,’ ‘I’m a Nigerian.’ He said ‘I’m a Nigerian’ twice.
“He said ‘I love Nigeria’ twice and the next thing, he stopped talking. We took him to the hospital and after some hours, the doctor said he had gone.”
Pa Edwin Clark, a former senator and renowned nationalist, was a prominent voice for the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole. His passing marks the end of an era of relentless advocacy for justice, equity, and national unity.
