By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has mourned the death of literary giant and celebrated poet, Prof. John Pepper Clark.
Clark’s death was announced on Tuesday. With his death, the Nigerian literary triumvirate that included Profs. Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka has been further depleted.
In a condolence statement he personally signed, Obaseki said Clark contributed immensely to Nigeria’s advancement through his numerous works.
“It is with a great sense of shock and foreboding that I received the sad news of the passing of Emeritus Professor of Literature and renowned writer, Prof. John Pepper Clark, whose death was announced on Tuesday,” Obaseki, who was reelected governor on September 19, wrote.
“Prof. John Pepper Clark was a great academic and a celebrated poet, who contributed immensely to Nigeria’s advancement through his numerous works.
“His literary exploits brought honour and great respect to Nigeria, and his contributions to literature and education in general will outlive many generations.
“His writings mirrored the society all through our development as a nation and he raised his pen when it mattered the most to condemn societal ills that threatened our collective existence and advancement as a nation as well as a continent.
“My heart goes out to the Clark-Fuludu Bekederemo family of Kiagbodo Town, in Delta State, at this time, and I urge them to find solace in the impactful life Prof. John Pepper Clark lived. We thank God for giving us a man of such rare talent and may his soul rest in peace.”