Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, the only surviving member of the General Yakubu Gowon Cabinet of 1 August, 1966 to 29 July, 1975 turned 96 years old on the 25th of May, 2023. To mark the milestone of the nonagenarian, a public presentation of the book: Brutally Frank, the Autobiography of Chief Dr. Senator Edwin Kiagbodo Clark was launched at the International Conference Center, Abuja on Thursday, 17 of August, 2023.
The event was Emceed by ace broadcasters Ohi Alegbe, Euginia Abu, and Mamode Akogha with dignitaries and political big wigs from across Nigeria in attendance. The Book Reviewer was Professor Osaremen Osunbor.
In his address, Chairman of the occasion under whose administration Chief Edward Kiagbodo Clark was the Federal Commissioner of Education, said Clark, who is the only surviving member of his government, was helpful in explaining his government and enhancing national unity.
Gowon said, “I can assure you, I’ve never had any difficulty or argument with him. It was most amicable and respectfully given.
“However, considering his strong personality, there were of course times that he would vehemently disagree with his colleagues, commissioners, and military officers and work hard to convince them of why his own position was better than theirs.
“He was helpful not only in explaining government policies and programmes but also in the efforts to rebuild our unity in the country. I also find him useful in our vision of building a common identity within the West African sub-region.”
General Gowon noted that “Brutally Frank” is a good chronicle of the events that happened under his administration and hoped that the younger generation would read the book and learn from it.
Gowon added that, “I, therefore, found his personality and partnership skills assets in visiting various West African countries to canvass the need for us to have a common regional body, which today is known as ECOWAS.
“Of course, our Ministry of Foreign Affairs certainly did a very good job with his efforts.
“So this book, ‘Brutally Frank,’ therefore, is a very useful chronicle of what transpired in Nigeria during his lifetime of service.
Also speaking at the occasion, former President Goodluck Jonathan, told the audience at the book launch that he never imagined he would be attending the National Council of States meeting as a former President with former Head of State, Gowon.
In Jonathan’s words, “I said Gowon was a very young man, young, but then, he was the Head of State when I was in Primary 5. Then, Diete-Spiff was our first military governor (Rivers State), as a very young man at 24. When I was in primary 5, I couldn’t have imagined that one day, I would be a retired president, sitting with Gowon in the Council of State meeting.”
Jonathan commended Gowon for his contributions towards keeping Nigeria one during his tenure as Head of State.
Representative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, while delivering the President’s speech said, Tinubu respects the person of Chief E. K. Clark and that he recognizes the fact that Clark is part of the Nigerian legend, that he is the Iroko of South South and the Eagle of Nigeria who believes in the unity of Nigeria.
He said this has been demonstrated in the Autobiography personally written by Chief Clark. He noted that he was not surprised because Chief Clark’s boss, General Gowon believes so much in the unity of Nigeria and its territorial integrity. He observed that this was the reason why, since 1970 when the war ended, sometime in 2015, President Obama, then American President, had to appeal to Nigerians not to do anything to undermine the integrity of Nigeria and to respect the wishes of the people by invoking Gowon’s war time mantra, “To keep Nigeria one, is a task that must be done.”
Dignitaries at the event included the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi; the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), who was the chief launcher and a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Victor Attah, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; former Edo State Governors, Osarenwen Osunbor and Adams Oshiomole; Former Bayelsa State Governor Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse and ex-Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, among others.
Others present were the Delta State Governor, Mr Oborevwori, his Deputy and some members of the state Legislature. Chief E. K. Clark is from Delta State.
