By Kolawole Ojebisi
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said the vacuum left by the death of Edwin Clark, elderstatesman, and the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), will be difficult to fill.
Jonathan, who described the deceased as a fearless elder statesman, spoke on Wednesday during a condolence visit to the family of the late Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) leader.
The former president eulogised Clark in the presence of Governor Duoye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, who led a group of Nigerians to the late former minister of Information and Second Republic Senator’s residence.
“A friend in Benue state called me and asked me to take over the leadership, but I said the shoe he wore, my feet are too tiny to fit in,” Jonathan said.
“He had the courage and boldness and could confront anybody even though he was from a minority group. He was not just a leader for the Ijaw nationality; he was a leader for Nigeria.
“When he was a federal commissioner, I was in primary school; you cannot ask me to fit into his shoes.
“He spoke to presidents, he challenged them, he came out with fire and brimstone to challenge injustice.”
Also speaking, Diri said Clark used to speak truth to power irrespective of who was involved.
“For us from his own ethnic nationality, Ijaw ethnic nationality, there are shoes that will be difficult for anybody to fill,” the Bayelsa governor said.
“We all know the man, the character E. K. Clark. His last book was brutally frank. A man who tells you black is black and white is white. He gave leadership, and for us, it is difficult to find who can step into those shoes. That is where we are now.”
Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, said Clark would be remembered for his “passion and love” for Nigeria.
“All we can pray is that Nigeria develops a greater sense of urgency in realising the principles for which he lived and in which he died,” he said.
Seriake Dickson, the senator representing Bayelsa west, described Clark as a “father of fathers” who would be greatly missed.
“We have lost an Iroko, father of fathers, mentor of mentors; his death has left a huge vacuum. Bayelsa must be kept safe for the Ijaw nation,” he said.
