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JP Clark: Buhari, others console Edwin Clark for loss of poet brother
President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a condolence message to a former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, for the demise of his younger brother, John Pepper Clark, an emeritus professor of literature and renowned writer.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and his Delta State counterpart, Ifeanyi Okowa, are among other people that have paid tributes to the literary icon, who died on Tuesday at the age of 86, according to a statement signed by Prof. C. C. Clark and Mr Ilaye Clark, for the family.
The statement read, “The Clark-Fuludu Bekederemo family of Kiagbodo Town, Delta State, wishes to announce that emeritus professor of literature and renowned writer, Prof. John Pepper Clark, has finally dropped his pen in the early hours of today, Tuesday, 13 October, 2020.
“Prof. J. P. Clark has paddled on to the great beyond in comfort of his wife, children and sibling, around him.
“The family appreciates your prayers at this time. Other details will be announced later by the family.”
President Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said JP Clark’s death would leave a huge vacuum in the literary world.
It stated, “On behalf of the Federal Government, President Muhammadu Buhari extends the deepest condolence to the Clark-Fuludu Bekederemo family on the passing of renowned writer and emeritus professor of literature, Prof. John Pepper Clark.
“President Buhari pays tribute to one of Nigeria’s finest poets, dramatist and recipient of the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award for literary excellence, whose repertoire of published works depicts the hard work of a great man, devoted to a lifetime of writing, knowledge and promotion of the indigenous culture of the Ijaw nation.
“Acknowledging that Prof. J.P. Clark’s exit has, indeed, left an indelible mark in the literary world, President Buhari takes solace that his body of literary works, which earned him recognition and respect both at home and abroad, would continue to inspire upcoming Nigerian writers to pursue literary excellence and flourish in their chosen vocation.
“The President’s thoughts and prayers are with the family of the departed patriot, the government and people of Delta State and the literary community in the country.
“He prays for the peaceful repose of the soul departed.”
Governor Obaseki described the late Clark as “a great academic, celebrated poet, adding, “His literary exploits brought honour and great respect to Nigeria and his contributions to literature and education, in general, will outlive many generations.”
Governor Okowa of Delta, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, said the literary world had lost an enigma whose works would continue to dominate the contemporary Nigerian society.
He said, “The literary works of Professor J.P. Clark promoted Delta, Nigeria and Africa, hence his demise is being celebrated by lovers of literature all over the world.
“As a serial award-winner in poetry, the late Prof. Clark was a consummate patriot, a great literary icon and a teacher par excellence, whose literary publications inspired deep thoughts, especially on social-economic and political themes.
“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I commiserate with the Clark-Fuludu Bekederemo family over the passing of renowned poet, literary giant and playwright, Emeritus Professor John Pepper Clark.”
Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who described him as a literary colossus, said, “As we all mourn the transition of this great African to eternal life, our heartfelt condolences go to his dear family and our dear Papa, Chief Edwin Clark.
“Forever, the world shall recall the intellectual stature and contributions of Prof Emeritus John Pepper Clark-Bekederemo.”
A famous playwright, Prof. Femi Osofisan, saw the late poet as a complex personality, noting, “He was an embodiment of contradictions in his personality, but what interests us is his talent as a poet and writer and conscience of society.
“He wasn’t a protest poet, but was very political in his writing. He was very concerned about the issues that pertain to society.
“We are going to miss him. I would personally miss him because he is my friend and mentor.”
Born on December 6, 1933, in Kiagbodo, to an Ijaw father and Urhobo mother, Clark received his early education at the Native Authority School, Okrika (Ofinibenya-Ama), in Burutu Local Government Area (then Western Ijaw) and the Government College in Ughelli.
He had his BA degree in English at the University of Ibadan, where he edited various magazines, including the Beacon and The Horn.
He had worked as an information officer in the Ministry of Information, in the old Western Region of Nigeria, after graduation from Ibadan in 1960, as features editor of the Daily Express, and as a research fellow at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan.
He served for several years as a Professor of English at the University of Lagos and retired in 1980.
In 1982, along with his wife, Ebun Odutola (a professor and former director of the Centre for Cultural Studies at the University of Lagos), he founded the PEC Repertory Theatre in Lagos.
He held visiting professorial appointments at several institutions of higher learning, including Yale and Wesleyan University in the United States.
Clark was most noted for his poetry
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Ramadan Begins in Nigeria as Sultan Confirms Crescent Sighting
Ramadan Begins in Nigeria as Sultan Confirms Crescent Sighting
Abuja — The Sultanate Council on Tuesday night confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon, officially signaling the commencement of Ramadan 1447AH in Nigeria.
The President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, announced that the new moon was sighted in parts of the country, thereby declaring Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as the first day of fasting for Muslims nationwide.
The announcement followed verified reports from moon-sighting committees across several states, in line with Islamic tradition which requires physical sighting of the crescent to mark the beginning of the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
In his message to the Muslim faithful, the Sultan urged Nigerians to use the holy month to pray for peace, unity, and national development. He also called on Muslims to embody the virtues of patience, compassion, charity, and self-discipline which Ramadan represents.
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Ramadan, one of the five pillars of Islam, requires adult Muslims to abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs from dawn until sunset throughout the month. The period is also marked by increased devotion, nightly congregational prayers in mosques, recitation of the Qur’an, and acts of charity to the less privileged.
Across major cities including Abuja, Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt, mosques recorded increased attendance for special night prayers following the announcement. Markets also witnessed heightened activity as families made last-minute purchases in preparation for the fasting period.
Ramadan will last 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the next crescent, and will culminate in the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the fasting month.
Muslim leaders have encouraged faithful to observe the fast in accordance with Islamic teachings while maintaining harmony and mutual respect within Nigeria’s diverse society.
Ramadan Begins in Nigeria as Sultan Confirms Crescent Sighting
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Saudi Arabia Confirms Sighting of Ramadan Crescent, Fasting Begins Wednesday
Saudi Arabia Confirms Sighting of Ramadan Crescent, Fasting Begins Wednesday
Riyadh, February 17, 2026 — Authorities in Saudi Arabia have officially confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon marking the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, signaling that fasting will commence on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
The announcement was made Tuesday evening following reports from moon-sighting committees across the Kingdom. In a statement carried by state media, the Supreme Court confirmed that verified testimonies of the crescent’s sighting had been received after sunset on the 29th day of Sha’ban.
With the confirmation, Muslims throughout the Kingdom will begin the first fast of Ramadan at dawn on Wednesday.
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Religious authorities had earlier called on citizens and residents to look for the crescent on Tuesday evening and report any confirmed sightings to the nearest court. Observations were conducted in various regions, including areas around Riyadh and Mecca, as part of the Kingdom’s longstanding tradition of physical moon sighting.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is observed by Muslims worldwide as a period of fasting, prayer, charity, and spiritual reflection. The start of the month is determined by the sighting of the new crescent moon, in accordance with Islamic tradition.
Several other countries in the Gulf region are also expected to begin fasting on Wednesday following similar confirmations, while some nations may rely on local moon sightings to determine their own start date.
Further announcements regarding the duration of nightly Taraweeh prayers and official Ramadan working hours are expected from relevant authorities in the coming days.
Saudi Arabia Confirms Sighting of Ramadan Crescent, Fasting Begins Wednesday
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Former INEC REC Warns of “Chaos” in 2027 Over E-Transmission of Election Results
Former INEC REC Warns of “Chaos” in 2027 Over E-Transmission of Election Results
A former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mike Igini, has raised concerns that Nigeria’s ongoing debate over electronic transmission of election results exposes unresolved legal, institutional, and technological challenges, despite years of electoral reforms. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Igini warned that recent Senate amendments to the Electoral Act could create confusion and vulnerabilities in future elections, particularly the 2027 general polls. He stressed that failing to clarify rules on electronic results transmission risks undermining democracy, transparency, and public confidence.
The controversy stems from the Senate’s recent amendment to the Electoral Act, which now allows electronic transmission of results but removed the “real-time” requirement that had previously been proposed to enable direct uploading from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV). Under the amendment, Form EC8A, the physical result sheet, remains the primary document in cases of internet outages or connectivity failure. Igini cautioned that this creates a grey area that could trigger disputes in 2027 if presiding officers are allowed discretion over network availability, highlighting that legal and technological clarity is essential to avoid chaos.
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Referencing a 2021 technical report by INEC and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Igini said Nigeria possesses adequate telecommunications coverage, with 2G and 3G networks covering about 93% of the country, making electronic transmission feasible nationwide. INEC had also mapped polling units to mobile network operators and prepared SIM cards and data arrangements to ensure smooth uploads to IREV. He explained that Nigeria had previously relied on interim innovations, including biometric voter registers, card readers, and digital result-viewing platforms, to enhance transparency where legal provisions prohibited full electronic transmission.
Igini further warned that introducing discretionary fallbacks for “network issues” could reintroduce vulnerabilities, as presiding officers might abuse their authority to manipulate results. He emphasised that modern election devices, such as BIVAS machines, can operate both online and offline, uploading results at the nearest connectivity point to ensure integrity in IREV. “The whole purpose of IREV is to make results verifiable and immutable once entered. Allowing manual override defeats the reforms we have painstakingly implemented over the years,” he said.
He also noted that judicial interpretations and evolving legislative amendments have contributed to uncertainty over the legality of technological innovations in elections. Igini urged lawmakers to consider the long-term implications of changes to the Electoral Act, stressing that Nigeria’s democratic stability relies on cooperation between INEC, the judiciary, and key stakeholders. “Our democracy’s future depends on the rule of law. Without it, society risks being dominated by those who act for personal interest rather than public good,” he added.
With the 2027 elections approaching, Igini’s warnings underscore the need for clear legal frameworks, technological preparedness, and robust institutional coordination. He urged all stakeholders to work collaboratively to ensure that electronic transmission of results enhances transparency, accountability, and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Former INEC REC Warns of “Chaos” in 2027 Over E-Transmission of Election Results
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