President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sadness over the passing of Chief Edwin Clark, a former federal commissioner of information and respected leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF). Chief Clark, 97, was born on May 25, 1927, in Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

The Special Adviser to the President, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement, said President Tinubu described Chief Clark’s passing as a deeply sobering loss. President Tinubu reflected on the life of the late statesman, saying Chief Clark was a towering figure whose influence was felt across Nigeria’s political firmament for nearly six decades. Onanuga stated that the President acknowledged Chief Clark as a courageous leader who stood for what he believed in and was never afraid to stand alone in the face of injustice.

“Chief Clark spoke for the Niger Delta. He spoke for the nation. His views and interventions on national issues were distinct and patriotic,” President Tinubu said. Bayo Onanuga added that the President noted Chief Clark’s commitment to national unity, saying, “Pa Clark, a lawyer and educationist, believed in a united Nigeria, and until his last breath, he never stopped reaching out to people from different parts of the country to work together to preserve national unity based on justice and equity.”

Onanuga quoted President Tinubu as saying, “As an astute politician, his political opponents never doubted his words’ weight, confidence, and conviction when he spoke. Indeed, a patriot has transitioned to the great beyond.” President Tinubu prayed for divine comfort for Chief Clark’s family, friends, and all those affected by this significant loss. Bayo Onanuga stated that the President extended his condolences to the Edwin Clark family, the Ijaw nation, the people of the Niger Delta, and the government of Delta State.