“Offend me with truth, don’t placate me with lies”-Edwin Clark

A former federal commissioner and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, did not encourage his followers to say in private what they could not say in the public, according to a former Senate Whip, Roland Stephen Owie.

Senator Owie gave this testimony in a statement issued on Friday in defence of the elder statesman.

Owie was reacting to the reported media attacks by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, on the elder statesman and significant leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF.

IPoB had reportedly described the Ijaw leader as “a spent force” who is unqualified to speak for Niger Deltans.

Advertisement

But Owie, in the statement circulated via WhatsApp, said he had known Clark since 1971 and quoted him to have taught him and others to “Offend him with the truth and not placate him with lies- and never say in private, what we cannot say in public.”

Read the full statement: “My beloved leaders and colleaugues of PANDEF, glory to Jesus! We should not bother ourselves about the comments those ‘rascals’ in IPoB are alleged to have made about our respected leader and father Senator Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark.

“Well meaning Igbo sons and daughters won’t cast aspersion on our “EKC” (Edwin Kiagbodo Clark).

“I have been very close to our father, Senator Clark, since July 1971, when I was an Education Officer (secondary and vocational), Bendel State Ministry of Education and worked closely with him.

“He has never been a double dealer and never spoke from two sides of his mouth.

“He taught us in the Ministry of Education to ‘-OFFEND HIM WITH THE TRUTH AND NOT PLACATE WITH LIES- and NEVER SAY IN PRIVATE, WHAT WE CAN NOT SAY IN PUBLIC.’

“What he taught us has kept me going in my life till today.

“May God bless our dear father EK (Edwin Clark) and all members of PANDEF, in Jesus Name. Amen.

“Sir Sen. R.S.Owie.(KSJI)”