Elizabeth Vincent, Yenagoa
High chief Alabo Nengi James, the National Vice President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), has urged the Federal Government to immortalize the image of the late Pa Edwin Clark by featuring him alongside Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe on the five hundred naira note. This proposal, he explained, would mirror the dual-image design featured on the one thousand naira note.
During an interactive session with members of the Federated correspondent Chapel (FCC) at the chapel secretariat in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nengi James also recommended that the Nigerian Local Content headquarters in Yenagoa be renamed in honor of Pa Edwin Clark.
He emphasized that the renaming would recognize Pa Clark’s tireless advocacy for the rights of oil-producing regions.
Nengi James further called on the governments of Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states, in collaboration with the BRACED Commission and the federal Government, to establish and support an Edwin Clark Foundation.
He suggested that the foundation should organize an annual lecture series and the Edwin Clark Awards to commemorate his legacy.
Additionally, he noted that Pa Clark had already played a role in establishing a university in Kiagbodo, his hometown. He urged the three states to construct facilities—such as hostels—on the university campus as enduring monuments to his contributions.
He also recommended that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) conduct a needs assessment of the university and provide essential amenities, given Pa Clark’s pivotal role alongside the late Dappa Biriye in the commission’s establishment.
“While a befitting burial is essential, it is not sufficient to truly honor Pa Clark’s legacy. He was an institution in himself, an exemplary leader, and a true national figure for the Niger Delta people. Undoubtedly, Pa Clark deserves a monumental and befitting immortalization. No sacrifice is too great to properly honor his legacy,” he stated.
Nengi James, who formerly served as the national youth leader of the South South People’s Conference (SSOPEC), recalled the invaluable lessons he learned from Pa Clark and other nationalist figures.
“These tireless advocates for the people of the Niger Delta and their true identity relentlessly championed equity and justice for the indigenous communities inhabiting the coastal territories and beyond, where Nigeria’s abundant oil and gas resources lie,” he added.
