The Senate has urged the federal government to immortalize the late Edwin Clark by naming a national monument in his honor.
Clark, a prominent leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and a former commissioner in Yakubu Gowon’s administration, passed away on Monday at the age of 97.
During its session on Wednesday, the Senate adopted a motion sponsored by Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, representing Delta South, and co-sponsored by 16 other lawmakers from the South-South region.
The motion highlighted Clark’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s political landscape and his unwavering advocacy for the Niger Delta.
Thomas praised Clark as a nationalist, a distinguished lawyer, and a committed advocate for regional development.
He noted Clark’s early education in Effurun, Okrika, and Afugbene, his training at the Government Teacher Training College (now Delta State University, Abraka), and his legal studies in the United Kingdom.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended Clark’s dedication to uniting Nigeria’s diverse regions and championing the rights of minority groups.
“His voice resonated even beyond the age of 90,” Akpabio remarked. “He was deeply passionate about Nigeria and remained an influential figure in national discourse.”
