The National Vice President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Alabo Nengi James, has called on the Federal Government to immortalise the image of late Pa Edwin Kiagbodo Clark alongside that of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe on the five-hundred-naira note.
Nengi James made the call during an interactive session with journalists in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, saying this will mirror the dual-image format of the one-thousand-naira note.
He further stated that the Nigerian Local Content headquarters in Yenagoa should also be renamed in Clark’s honour in recognition of his tireless advocacy for the rights of the oil-producing region.
He also called on the Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers state governments, in collaboration with the BRACED Commission and the Nigerian government, to establish and support the Edwin Clark Foundation.
“The Foundation should organise an annual lecture series, Edwin Clark Awards, and perpetuate the memory of his life and contribution.
“Already, the late sage has established an existing university in Kiagbodo, his hometown, so the Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta state governments should each construct structures, such as hostels, at the university, serving as enduring monuments to his recognition by these states.
“The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) should conduct a needs assessment of Edwin Clark University and provide essential amenities to the institution, considering Pa Clark’s pivotal role, alongside the late Dappa Biriye, in the establishment of the NDDC.”
He further said that while a befitting burial is essential, it is not sufficient to truly honor Pa Clark’s legacy.
“Pa Clark was an institution in himself, an exemplary leader, and a true national figure for the Niger Delta people.
“Undoubtedly, Pa deserves a monumental and befitting immortalization. No sacrifice is too great to properly honour his legacy,” he said.
Nengi James, who was the former national youth leader of the South-South People’s Conference (SSOPEC), said he gained invaluable knowledge from the late nationalist.
He described him as a “tireless advocate for the people of the Niger Delta and their true identity, who relentlessly championed equity and justice for the indigenous communities inhabiting the coastal territories and beyond, where Nigeria’s abundant oil and gas resources come from.”
