The family of Chief Edwin Clark, leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), who passed away at the age of 97 on Monday night, has shared his final words before his death.
TheNewsGuru reports that this came as top Nigerian leaders, both past and present mourned the passing of the nationalist.
According to Vanguard, Clark, who was admitted at DIFF Medical Centre, Abuja, died about 11.45p.m., on Monday, ahead of his 98th birthday that would have been May 25, 2025.
Speaking, the National Chairman of PANDEF, Amb. Godknows Igali and the first child of the elder statesman, Mrs. Rebecca Clark-Okorodudu, said the late Ijaw leader affirmed his love for his country.
“I AM a Nigerian, I love Nigeria, Nigeria is my country, I am proud to be a Nigerian,” the family revealed those as part of Clark’s last words.
According to them, “Chief Clark said in his last hours that the people must not have a ‘giving up spirit,’ assuring that they would surely succeed in making Nigeria a better society again”.
They further added that, those he was leaving behind, especially members of PANDEF and SMBLF, must continue with the struggle, and should not rest on their oars in the fight for restructuring.
Before his death, the South South leader also warned that no one should mourn when he departs the world, but said there should be celebration all round.
He also advised that anyone who came to his house during the period should be fed.
These were what he told those around him last Friday before he could no longer speak and was rushed to the hospital where he was admitted when his condition became critical.