….As Chief Okorie relives fond memories of Afenifere leader
By Omoniyi Salaudeen
The Ijaw Elders Forum, Lagos, has sent its condolences to the families of the foremost Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, and his Afenifere counterpart, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, whose sad events simultaneously occurred within a space of one week.
In a tribute signed by its Chairman, Chief Bukazi Etete, the forum described the two elder statesmen as fearless advocates for justice and equity in Nigeria, lamenting that the losses came a few days apart.
The statement reads in part: “The Ijaw Elders Forum, Lagos, mourn the death of our National Leader and voice of the Ijaw Nation, Chief (Dr.) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark. OFR, CON.
“The voice of the Ijaw Nation has gone silent. Our chief advocate and minority interest defender has gone to the great beyond. The strong advocate of minority interest and restructuring is gone. We weep as a people for this great loss but are consoled by the fact that he lived a well fulfilled life as a great national patriot.
“As if in a conspiracy, he departed this world to the great beyond a few days after his soul mate and co-advocate for minority rights and restructuring, Pa Ayo Adebanjo (The great Afenifere Leader) also departed to the great beyond.
“Pa Clark was a fearless advocate for justice and equity in Nigeria. He was concerned about the suffering and oppression of the Ijaw and the People of the Niger Delta. He did not mince words when speaking truth to power. He was a strong voice expressing concern about the marginalisation of the Ijaw people and the yoke of oil exploitation, which has devastated the environment of the Niger Delta and ravaged the lives of the people.”
Expressing condolences to the family, the IEF noted that Clark had left an indelible mark in the sand of time and prayed to God to grant his soul eternal rest.
Similarly, the forum extolled Adebanjo’s virtues, describing him as a committed patriot and detribalised Nigerian who spent his entire life advocating for equity and justice. “He was a detribalised Nigerian and an astute politician who spent his entire life advocating for equity and justice in Nigeria. He was an advocate for democracy good governance and social justice.
“IEF identifies with the great ideals the Afenifere leader stood for in Nigeria. Ideals he not only espoused but collaborated with other ethnic nationalities like the Ijaw Elders forum to actualize,” the group added.
Also, the pioneer chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekwas Okorie, in a release made available to Sunday Sun, relived the fond memories of the life and times of the late Afenifere leader, describing him as an irrepressible champion of true federalism in Nigeria.
“Chief Ayo Adebanjo was a Nigerian statesman and a quintessential nationalist. His kind, who are still alive in Nigeria, can be counted on the fingertips. I have always been enamored by his courage, forthrightness, sincerity, and the power of his convictions. I remember with nostalgia, the epic presidential media chat we had with President Olusegun Obasanjo in the year 2000 at the Aso Rock presidential villa. Chief Ayo Adebanjo represented the Afenifere on the panel, Dr. Paul Unongo represented the Arewa Consultative Assembly, and l was nominated by the Imeobi to represent the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. President Olusegun Obasanjo was the host, while Prof Tonnie Osa Iredia anchored the chat.
Coincidentally, Chief Adebanjo and I were on the same page on the national issues that came up during the chat. It will be recalled that it was Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu that first promoted the idea of a “Handshake Across The Niger” to encourage Igbo-Yoruba rapprochement. Chief Ayo Adebanjo and other Afenifere leaders keyed into it.
“The greatest honor we owe Chief Ayo Adebanjo is to sustain the struggle for true federalism, which he fought for until the end and until it is achieved in the interest of present and future generations of Nigerians”, Okorie stated.