Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State while mourning the passage of the Ijaw ethnic nationality’s foremost personage and leader, Chief (Dr.) Senator Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, said that the Ijaw nation has lost its father-figure and irrepressible voice.
In a statement, the governor described late Chief Clark as ”an icon, a treasure of inestimable value and a nationalist par excellence”.
”He was a distinguished patriot, who dedicated his whole life to the service of Nigeria. Until the very end, he was unrelenting.
As the Ijaw nation reflects on the passage of this exceptional sage, we take solace in his matchless contributions to national development.
On behalf of the Ijaw nation, the government and people of Bayelsa State, I express heartfelt condolences to the Clark family of Kiagbodo in Burutu Local Government Area and the Delta State government.
I pray the Lord grants the family and indeed the Ijaw nation the grace to bear this great loss.
I have consequently directed that all flags in the state fly at half-mast for three days while all our government’s fifth anniversary activities remain suspended for the same period”.