By Sylvanus Viashima Jalingo
JALINGO – Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has described the death of Late Pa Edwin Clark as an irreparable loss to the people Nigeria as a nation.
In a statement issued in Jalingo on Tuesday evening, and signed by Hon. Emmanuel Bello, Special Adviser Media and Digital Communications, the Governor said that the late Pa Clark played a fatherly role in his life as a person and his demise has created a gaping hole in his heart.
He described Pa Edwin Clark as “one of the very last icons of a generation in Nigeria’s history. With the demise of the elder statesman, the country has lost an irreplaceable encyclopedia of knowledge and a great light of guidance”.
Dr. Kefas, who prayed for the repose of his soul, said Pa Edwin Clark exemplified excellent leadership, especially in honesty, courage, and forthrightness. He said the PANDEF leader was a defender of democracy and a Field Marshall in the cause of humanity.
On a personal level, Dr. Kefas said the late elder statesman played a fatherly role in his life, especially at critical moments when his advice was most needed. He said the counsels of the former federal minister have remained invaluable throughout his career.
Pa Edwin Clark, according to family sources, passed on at the age of 97. The former federal minister of communication was until his demise, the national leader of PANDEF. He has remained a consistent voice in the pursuit of social justice and resource control for the Niger Delta region.
Governor Kefas said Pa Clark would be remembered for his critical and accurate appraisal of national issues in the media and paid tribute to his resilience in the face of verbal attacks and aggressive opposition.
He also condoled with the immediate family of Pa Edwin Clark and the entire people of the Niger Delta and urged them to take solace in the great life Pa Clark led, and the unforgettable legacy he has bequeathed the nation at large.
