From Ameachi Prosper (The New Diplomat’s Delta Correspondent)
In observance of his will, the remains of African literary icon and prolific writer, Prof. John Pepper Clark, was interred Thursday night, at his country home in Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.
He was buried at a quiet private family funeral in accordance with his “last wish” before he passed on, Tuesday in Lagos at 85.
The award-winning playwright was committed to mother earth at exactly 11:30pm, Thursday.
The brief funeral ceremony was attended by members of the Clark family and a few community members.
According to report, the late Playwright has instructed his children before his demise to bury him within three days of his death in a quiet funeral devoid of crowd, just as he forewarned the family not to take his body to mortuary.
The body of the legendary author of “America, Their America” arrived Kiagbodo at about 8:48pm on Thursday before being ferried in a wooden boat to his house along the Kiagbodo river.
The brown-casket containing the body of the deceased was flown from Lagos en route Asaba International Airport before being conveyed in an ambulance belonging to the Delta State Government to his country home.
His remains was intercepted by community youths joined by the women folks singing different Ijaw traditional songs used to honour and celebrate great sons and daughter of the Ijaw ethnic nationality.
He was given a brief Christian burial.
The officiating priest and senior pastor of Trinity House, Victoria Inland, Lagos, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, disclosed that the late writer gave his life to Christ before he passed on.
Pastor Ighodalo, represented by Pastor Jolomi Guoti and Pastor Ken Okochu, described the departed famous poet as a gift to humanity, saying he was happy that Prof JP Clark received Christ in the twilight of earthly journey.
In his brief remark, the deceased’s eldest child and only son, Elaye Clark, said their father had to be buried within three days of passage in fulfillment of his wish while alive.
He thanked Nigerians and the Clark family for the solidarity given to the immediate family in their moment of grieve.
