The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, has passed away at the age of 97. The former Federal Commissioner for Information and a prominent South-South leader died on Monday, February 17, 2025. The announcement of his death was made by a family representative, Prof. C. C. Clark, in a statement released on Tuesday.
The statement, issued by the Clark-Fuludu Bekederemo family of Kiagbodo Town, Delta State, confirmed the passing of “Chief (Dr.) Sen. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark OFR, CON.” It further expressed the family’s gratitude for the support and prayers they have received, adding that more details about funeral arrangements would be shared later. The statement read, “The family appreciates your prayers at this time. Other details will be announced later by the family.”
Clark’s death comes shortly after the passing of another key political figure, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the leader of Afenifere, who died at the age of 96. Both Clark and Adebanjo were pivotal in shaping Nigeria’s political landscape, especially in championing the rights of their respective regions and contributing to the nation’s development.
In 2022, both men participated in the Greater Nigeria Conference (GNC), a pan-Nigerian dialogue organized by the global Igbo think tank, Nzuko Umunna. The conference was held in Abuja to discuss the importance of selecting a presidential candidate from the Southeast region in the 2023 general elections. This initiative was seen as a call for greater inclusivity and regional representation in Nigeria’s political processes.
Edwin Clark was widely regarded as a towering figure in Nigerian politics. His life’s work was characterized by his unwavering advocacy for the rights of the Niger Delta region, where he was a staunch voice for equity and fairness. Clark’s career spanned multiple sectors, including law, administration, and freedom fighting. He was appointed Commissioner for Education in the Mid-Western Region from 1968 to 1971, and later served as Commissioner for Finance and Establishment in Bendel State from 1972 to 1975.
At the national level, Clark was appointed Commissioner for Information in 1975 and became a Senator from 1979 to 1983. Known for his passionate defense of regional and national unity, Clark also played a key role in mediating peace efforts among warring communities and political factions within the Niger Delta. His dedication to promoting peace and understanding was central to his political ideology.
In recent years, Clark continued his efforts to foster political reconciliation in the Niger Delta. In 2024, he initiated a committee aimed at reconciling Governor Siminalayi Fubara with his former political godfather, Nyesom Wike. The reconciliation committee was led by former Akwa Ibom Governor Obong Victor Attah, Co-Chairman of the PANDEF Board of Trustees. The committee’s formation was announced during PANDEF’s special General Assembly held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on October 24, 2024.
