General News
Niger Delta Marks One Year Remembrance of Edwin Clark, Describes Him as Courageous Leader
The people of the Niger Delta region and Nigerians across the country are commemorating the first anniversary of the passing of former Federal Minister of Information and renowned Ijaw leader, Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, who died on February 17, 2025, at the age of 98.
To mark the occasion, a memorial service is being held today at the auditorium of Edwin Clark University in Delta State. The event is organized by the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) in collaboration with the university, the Clark family, and the Edwin Clark Foundation. It is expected to draw prominent personalities from across the country.
Speaking ahead of the memorial, PANDEF National Chairman, Ambassador (Dr.) Godknows Igali, described the late Clark as a courageous, fearless, and patriotic Nigerian leader who dedicated his life to the unity and progress of the nation.
“Today, we especially remember with fondest memories our father, leader, national icon and statesman, Chief EK Clark. One year feels like yesterday. After 98 years of labour and devotion to building a Nigeria where truth, justice, fairness, and harmony reign, you departed with the words: ‘I am a Nigerian, I love Nigeria,’” Igali said.
He added that Clark’s unwavering commitment to the unity, solidarity, and national relevance of the Niger Delta and the entire South-South geopolitical zone would be celebrated for generations.
Igali, who succeeded Clark as PANDEF leader, described him as a “game changer” whose courage resonated far and wide. “Like a lion, Pa Clark’s courage was unmatched,” he said.
Born on May 25, 1927, Clark was a prominent Nigerian politician, Ijaw leader, and elder statesman from Delta State. Over the decades, he became known as a fearless advocate for the Niger Delta, minority rights, true federalism, and national unity.
His political career began in 1953 when he was elected councillor for Bomadi. He later joined the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) during the pre-independence era.
Clark served in various capacities, including: Education Commissioner and later as Federal Commissioner for Information in 1975 under the then Head of State, Yakubu Gowon. He also worked with the administration of military governor Samuel Ogbemudia and was a member of an advisory committee to Mid-Western Region military governor David Ejoor in 1966.
During the Second Republic, Clark was a member of the national executive committee of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and served as its treasurer in Bendel State. In 1983, he was elected senator during the closing months of the Shehu Shagari administration.
In 2016, he co-founded PANDEF as a platform to engage stakeholders and advocate for restructuring, development, and improved security policies for the Niger Delta.
Clark also invested heavily in education, founding the Edwin Clark Foundation and Edwin Clark University to promote academic advancement in the region.
As tributes continue to pour in, many describe his life as one defined by courage, advocacy, and an enduring commitment to justice and equity in Nigeria.
Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has broken his silence over recent allegations made by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing the claims as too grave to ignore.
Last week, El-Rufai reportedly accused the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, of secretly bugging his phone and gaining access to his most sensitive conversations. He further alleged that the Office of the National Security Adviser imported dangerous chemical substances into Nigeria for undisclosed purposes. In addition, he claimed there was a conspiracy involving Ribadu and Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, aimed at politically destroying him and ensuring his imprisonment for life.
Fani-Kayode, who acknowledged longstanding personal relationships with all three men, said he initially refrained from commenting out of respect for their shared history. However, he stated that the seriousness of the allegations and recent developments compelled him to speak.
Reflecting on their political journey, Fani-Kayode recalled that he, El-Rufai, Ribadu and Uba Sani worked closely during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo over two decades ago. At the time, Ribadu headed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), El-Rufai served in the Federal Executive Council, Uba Sani functioned as Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, while Fani-Kayode was a cabinet minister.
According to him, the group maintained a close working relationship and often aligned on national policy matters, engaging robustly during Federal Executive Council meetings. He described the period as one marked by loyalty, youthful zeal, and firm commitment to the administration.
Fani-Kayode further recounted that after leaving office, members of the group faced what he termed “severe persecution” during the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, largely due to their association with Obasanjo. He claimed that Ribadu and El-Rufai were forced into exile at the time, while he and Uba Sani remained in Nigeria and endured political pressure.
Although Fani-Kayode did not directly validate or dismiss El-Rufai’s recent allegations, he emphasized that the claims are weighty and require careful attention given the national security implications.
The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, resolving a major dispute over Clause 60, which governs electronic transmission of election results.
The controversy arose when Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe demanded a division, opposing the proviso allowing manual transmission where network failures occur. He called for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results.
During the division, 55 senators, mostly from the ruling All Progressives Congress and two opposition members, voted to retain the manual fallback option, while 15 opposition senators voted against it.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, described the process as “democracy in action,” praising senators for expressing their positions openly.
The Senate subsequently rescinded the earlier passage and referred the bill to the Committee of the Whole for detailed reconsideration and re-enactment.
The decision confirms that while electronic transmission is allowed, the signed Form EC8A by the Presiding Officer, counter-signed by party agents where available, serves as the primary source in case of network failure.
The development ensures technical and logistical considerations are addressed ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The National Assembly on Tuesday commended the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for what lawmakers described as sweeping reforms across agencies under his supervision, while urging authorities to fast-track ongoing recruitment exercises.
The commendation came during a joint session of the Interior Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives, where the minister and his team defended the ministry’s 2026 budget proposal.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, Adams Oshiomhole, speaking on behalf of the joint panel, said reform measures introduced by the ministry were already yielding measurable results both locally and internationally.
He highlighted improvements within the Nigeria Immigration Service, noting increased professionalism and better public perception at airports, which he said reflects positively on Nigeria’s global image.
Oshiomhole also cited a recent federal directive assigning VIP protection duties to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, describing it as evidence of growing confidence in the corps’ capacity to protect lives and property.
The committee further acknowledged restructuring efforts within the Federal Fire Service and the Nigerian Correctional Service, commending their leadership for aligning with the minister’s reform agenda.
According to the lawmaker, the Senate had earlier passed a resolution directing the ministry to deploy officials to Kano to assess recent fire outbreaks that destroyed shops and private property, stressing the need to strengthen emergency response systems nationwide.
Despite praising the progress recorded, the panel urged the Civil Defence, Correctional, Immigration and Fire Service Board to accelerate its recruitment process. Lawmakers noted that candidates who recently sat for examinations were awaiting results and should be notified promptly, describing timely completion of the exercise as a matter of national importance.
The committee maintained that sustained reforms, combined with prompt administrative action, would further enhance public confidence in agencies under the ministry.