The Pan Yoruba Socio-Political Group, Afenifere has mourned the death of the national leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF),Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark.
A statement by its deputy leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan and General secretary, Chief Olusola Ebiseni, said that the death of the nationalist, was another huge loss.
The group noted that the call to glory of Chief Clark ” is no doubt another huge loss of rare a nationalist and statesman with courage for a Nigeria of equal opportunities and resultant peaceful co-existence of its constituent nationalities to achieve its manifest destiny as the leader of Africa and peoples of Africa descent.
“In Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, Afenifere celebrates a life dedicated to the greatness of Nigeria and a voice which brutally and frankly spoke truth to power in its realisation.
“Edwin Clark dedicated his life, especially in the last two decades, to further unite and provide courageous leadership with his compatriots for the Ijaw nation through the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and with his other colleagues formed the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) as strategic platforms for identifying and protecting the interests of the multiple South-South ethnic nationalities within the Nigerian Federation.
He played a leading role in fostering southern Nigeria unity through the most celebrated “handshake-across-the Niger” and the formation of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (MBLF) as a national platform for equity and fairness in national affairs.
“Edwin Clark did not only lead the SMBLF but also made his Abuja residence available as its secretariat as the venue and veritable voice for true federalism and assurance that no geopolitical zone is short-changed in the access to the leadership of Nigeria.
The group asked the Clark family, to raise their heads “high for giving to Nigeria a worthy son and to our colleagues in the INC, PANDEF and MBLF, it is time for greater commitment to the cause of a true federal Nigeria where no group is oppressed to which ideals our leaders dedicated their lives. It is not yet uhuru.”
