As elder statesman, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, popularly called E. K. Clark, turns 96, a foremost Ijaw sociocultural organisation, the Ijaw National Congress, INC, has felicitated the nonagenarian on the auspicious occasion.
INC, in a congratulatory message signed by its President, Prof Benjamin Ogele Okaba and the National Publicity Secretary, Engr Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha, said it was particularly happy that E. K. Clark had remained a good ambassador of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, standing firm and speaking out against injustice and oppression of the minority groups in the country.
The group noted that the elder statesman’s interest in the development of the Niger Delta region was immeasurable, culminating in the attraction of numerous programmes and projects aimed at uplifting the living standard of oil bearing and riverine communities.
The worldwide organisation stated, with a sense of responsibility, that the contributions of E. K. Clark to national development, especially by speaking the truth to power, had helped to put the nation’s leaders on their toes to serve the people better.
It maintained that even at 96 the Ijaw national leader still had a lot to offer to the nation and prayed that God should grant the celebrant good health and more years of age to enable him do more.
INC hailed E. K. Clark for his great accomplishments, which it noted would outlive the present generation and wished him well.
ANIOMA: History, Identity, Equity, The Quest For Statehood