Chief E.K. Clark’s Death and the Need for a New Niger Delta Defender – DR Odje
By Wilson Macaulay, Warri, Nigeria – April 10, 2025
Dr. Akpo Mudiaga Odje, a prominent constitutional lawyer and Niger Delta rights advocate, has stated that the passing of Chief Dr. E.K. Clark OFR CON facilitated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a State of Emergency amidst the ongoing political unrest in Rivers State.
DR Odje lamented that in a dramatic twist of fate, barely hours after the announcement of Chief Clark’s death, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State. The timing of this action has stirred intense suspicion and concern across the Niger Delta, with many viewing it as a calculated move aimed at further consolidating federal control over the oil-rich region at a moment of vulnerability.
The visibly agitated legal luminary in his speech described the situation as “highly instructive and questionable,” suggesting that the Nigerian State might be emboldened in its approach to the Niger Delta’s oil and gas wealth following the fall of one of its fiercest while our fate hang in the balance.
Continuing, he said:” The Niger Delta region has been thrown into deep mourning following the passing of one of its most revered elder statesmen and defenders, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, popularly known as E.K. Clark. His demise, which came as a shock to many, has left a gaping vacuum in the leadership of the region — one that is already throwing up fresh challenges against our noble walk to freedom.
He explained that, when he was alife,
Chief Clark stood like a rock against the overbearing tendencies of the Nigerian federation. He defended our resources, our dignity, and our people. Now that he is no more, there seems to be a well-timed move to suppress the region further,” Dr. Odje asserted in an emotional tribute.
” Chief Clark, who lived to the age of 97, was not only a political titan but also a fearless advocate for the rights of the Ijaw people and the broader Niger Delta region. Over the decades, he consistently challenged the unjust derivation formula, called out environmental degradation, and demanded resource control — often standing alone, yet unwavering in his conviction.”
DR Odje pointed out that the sudden state of emergency in Rivers State has reignited fears of federal overreach, particularly as the state remains a strategic oil-producing hub. He Prophetically warned that this may be the first in a series of orchestrated actions to stifle regional autonomy and frustrate the aspirations of the Niger Delta people.
The renowned Constitutional Lawyer in the light of these developments, called on leaders, activists, youth groups, and all relevant stakeholders to rally around a new call — to unite and rebuild a formidable front capable of engaging the Nigerian State constructively and constitutionally. like it was done before the exit of Late Chief DR EK Clark.
Speaking further, with emphasis DR Odje stated:
“We must close ranks. Posterity and history are calling us. We cannot afford divisions or silence. We must find another leader, or leaders, who can rise to the occasion with the same unflinching courage, intellect, and love for the Niger Delta.”
Across the creeks, cities, and riverine communities of the Niger Delta, candlelight vigils, tributes, and solidarity songs are being held in memory of Chief Clark. His legacy is being recounted with reverence — from his fiery speeches at national conferences to his role as a conscience of the nation during some of its darkest political chapters.
Beyond mourning, however, the prevailing mood is one of resolve and resistance.
As the region reflects on his legacy, many draw inspiration from the timeless words of Martin Luther King Jr., invoked by Dr. Odje in his call for unity:
“Free at last, we are free at last!”
But the struggle for true freedom — from political manipulation, environmental destruction, and economic marginalization — remains unfinished. The baton has now been passed to the next generation, will they rise? Will they unite? DR Odje concluded .
