February 18, (THEWILL) – The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, received the news of the passing of the Ijaw ethnic nationality’s foremost personage and leader, Chief (Dr) Senator Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, with sadness and equanimity.
The Ijaw nation has lost its father figure and irrepressible voice.
Chief Clark was an icon, a treasure of inestimable value and a nationalist par excellence.
He was a distinguished patriot who dedicated his whole life to the service of Nigeria. Until the very end, he was unrelenting.
As the Ijaw nation reflects on the passage of this exceptional sage, we take solace in his matchless contributions to national development.
On behalf of the Ijaw nation, the government and the people of Bayelsa State, I express heartfelt condolences to the Clark family of Kiagbodo in the Burutu Local Government Area and the Delta State government.
I pray the Lord grants the family, and indeed, the Ijaw nation, the grace to bear this great loss.
I have consequently directed that all flags in the state fly at half-mast for three days while all our government’s fifth anniversary activities remain suspended for the same period.
Our correspondent reported that the anniversary program, which the state governor Douye Diri has been using to commission his legacy projects and groundbreaking of major projects, was suspended, as guests and expectant participants at Gabriel Okara cultural centre were later informed of the postponement.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
