Ijaw Nation Honors Elder Statesman Edwin Clark with Memorial Events Across Nigeria
BY : Ogulagha Vanguards
The Ijaw National Congress (INC), in collaboration with the Clark family, has organized a series of memorial events to celebrate the life and legacy of the late Elder Statesman and political icon, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark. These events, which include Services of Songs, are taking place across various Ijaw communities nationwide.
One of the key ceremonies, a Service of Songs, was held yesterday at St. Augustine’s Cathedral in GRA, Port Harcourt. The solemn event was attended by dignitaries, political allies, and friends loyal to Chief Clark, reflecting the deep respect and admiration he earned over decades of public service.
Chief Edwin Clark passed away on February 17, 2025, at the age of 97. He was a revered Ijaw leader, former Federal Commissioner for Information, founder of Edwin Clark University, and the National Leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF). His death was widely mourned across Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta region, where he was celebrated for his unwavering advocacy for justice, equity, and regional development.
Speaking to the press, the National Chairman of the Burial Committee, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, paid tribute to Chief Clark’s enduring impact. “Pa Clark was a personal friend to my late father. After my father’s passing, he became a father to me. Everyone in the Ijaw clan knows how much he stood for our people and how powerful his voice was in Nigerian politics. We have therefore come together to give him the state burial he truly deserves,” he said.
Chief Edwin Clark will be laid to rest on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in his hometown of Kiagbodo, located in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. The final burial program includes:
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Lying in state at Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Commendation Service
11:00 AM: Funeral Service
1:00 PM: Reception
5:00 PM: Interment, followed by an all-night vigil
These activities mark the culmination of funeral rites that began on May 7, 2025, in Abuja and continued in Yenagoa, Port Harcourt, Warri, and finally Kiagbodo, echoeing Chief Clark’s immense influence and the legacy he leaves behind in the Niger Delta and beyond.
BY OGULAGHA VANGUARDS NEWS
