The nation awoke to a wave of sorrow as news broke of the passing of High Chief Dr. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, OFR, CON, a towering figure whose voice had shaped the conscience of the South-South and Nigeria at large.
Among those deeply shaken by the loss was High Chief Dr. Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, known to many as Tompolo, who penned a heartfelt condolence message, mourning not just a leader but a father figure.
In his tribute, Tompolo extended his sympathies to the Clark-Fuludu Bekederemo family of Kiagbodo town, acknowledging their profound personal loss.
Yet, the weight of Clark’s departure reached far beyond family ties, touching the hearts of people across the South-South geopolitical zone and the entire nation.
“The news came to me with a rude shock,” Tompolo shared, his words tinged with disbelief.
“Even though he was old, he was full of life and kicking. Hence, I was surprised to hear of his death this morning.”
Such was the aura of Senator Clark — a man whose energy and passion for justice seemed timeless, defying the limitations of age.
His voice was not just loud; it was potent, a unique gift from God that resonated with truth and unwavering conviction.
“Nigeria lost its unique and potent voice in the South-South geopolitical zone,” Tompolo lamented, recognizing the irreplaceable gap the elder statesman’s death had left in the country’s leadership structure.
Clark was more than a political icon; he was a democratic and socio-economic crusader who fought for fairness and inclusion with unmatched tenacity.
Throughout his life, he remained a strong, fearless, and irrepressible advocate for the downtrodden.
“He was a voice for the voiceless and a father for the fatherless,” Tompolo wrote, a poignant acknowledgment of Clark’s lifelong mission to uplift those forgotten by society.
The loss, Tompolo admitted, was irreparable. But even in grief, his message carried a quiet strength, a recognition that Senator Clark’s legacy of truth and justice would continue to inspire generations to come.
“We will miss him,” Tompolo affirmed, speaking not only for himself but for an entire region that had drawn courage from Clark’s example.
In closing, Tompolo offered a prayer, asking God Almighty to give the Clark family and the nation the fortitude to bear this painful loss.
Signed with reverence, his message stood as a testament to the life and legacy of the ijaw national leader
