Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and elder statesman, Edwin Clark, has said he stopped celebrating his birthday since the Chibok Girls were kidnapped in Borno State in April, 2014.
He revealed this at his 96th birthday thanksgiving service conducted by St. James’ Anglican Church, Asokoro.
The service was presided over by Archbishop, Metropolitan, Primate of All Nigeria and Bishop of Abuja, Most Revd. Henry Ndukuba.
Clark added that he has refused to celebrate his birthdays since the incidence because it was the worst experience any country could have.
The elder statesman while speaking on the state of the nation, maintained that, mere words cannot heal the wounds and unite the country stressing that, it must be backed with actions.
“Nigeria is so divided. Today, I am not celebrating, but I must thank God. I am not celebrating because I lost two younger brothers.”
On his memoir, he said: “I have written a book, some people might want to take me to court but that is the truth. You can’t kill the truth.
“I am a Nigerian, I won’t keep quiet when Nigerians are suffering. If Nigeria is not standing properly there will be no peace. Why is it that a region is having five states, others are having four, one has seven.”
In his sermon, Ndukuba said: “A word from you is a like a torch in the dark, your torch will never go down. It will continue to shine and glorify your father in heaven. Speak when you want to speak, speak what you want to say and allow God to do the rest.
“To other Nigerians, give to your immediate environment and make it better than the way you met it. God gave you to the glory of God, do not be afraid.
“This is one man when he rings his bell everyone will hear. Until Nigeria becomes a better place, a pride of the world, we will not rest.
“May God make you more relevant and through you others will be relevant.”
Daughter of the elder statesman, Rebecca Clark-Okorodudu, speaking on how she feels about her father being a frontliner in the nation’s polity, said she likes the fact that her father speaks truth to power at all times, adding that if Nigeria can have two or three more of him, the country would be a better place.
Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, expressed happiness that Clark was still preaching unity at 96. He also commended the fact that even at old age, he could still remember Nigeria’s history with dates.