Senate asks FG to immortalise Edwin Clark with national monument

The Senate has asked the federal government to honour the late Edwin Clark by naming a national monument after him.

The leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), who was a commissioner in the Yakubu Gowon’s government, passed away on Monday at 97

On Wednesday, the upper legislative chamber asked the federal government to immortalise the late outspoken Ijaw leader by naming a national monument after him.

The resolution to name a monument after the late Clark followed a motion sponsored by Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, the senator representing Delta south and co-sponsored by 16 other lawmakers from the south-south geopolitical zone.

While eulogising the late elder statesman, Thomas highlighted Clark’s remarkable contributions to Nigeria’s political evolution and his unwavering commitment to the rights of the Niger Delta people.

“Pa Edwin Clark was a nationalist, renowned lawyer, seasoned administrator, philanthropist and an astute advocate for the rights of the Niger Delta,” the lawmaker said.

“He attended primary and secondary schools at Effurun, Okrika and Afugbene before completing further studies at the Government Teacher Training College, which later became Delta State University, Abraka.

“Thereafter, Clark worked briefly as a schoolteacher before travelling to the United Kingdom to earn a law degree.”

Senate President Godswill Akpabio acknowledged Clark’s relentless advocacy for the rights of minorities and his efforts to unite different regions of the country.

“So, he traversed from Niger Delta to the north and tried to unite them. And he tried his best in a system like Nigeria, with different ethnic groups,” Akpabio said.

“He had a very strong balance. His voice resonated above the age of 90. At any point in time when Edwin Clark speaks, you see the passion that he was speaking about Nigeria.”

After the eulogies, the senate observed a one-minute silence in his honour.

The red chamber also resolved to send a delegation to commiserate with his family, the government, and the people of Delta state and to participate in the burial ceremonies of the late Ijaw national leader.

Clark was a senator for three months in 1983 during the Shehu Shagari administration.