In the quiet radiance of Yuletide lights piercing the December veil, when the world pauses to contemplate the profound mysteries of giving, remembrance, and eternal light, my soul is drawn into a deeper meditation on the human spirit’s enduring legacy.
Christmas, that sacred season echoing the divine generosity of God—who “so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16)—invites us to ponder the true essence of gift-giving: not in fleeting material offerings, but in the timeless imparting of wisdom, justice, and compassion that transforms lives across generations.
On a day like this, I cannot help but think of my late father, Solomon Ayodele Olusoji Ajulo, who left this world in April 2003. His memory, infused with love and guidance, forever shapes my journey. Alongside him, I also hold in reverence other father figures who have touched my life, their lessons echoing through time. In the same breath, I feel the fresh pang of loss for Chief E. K. Clark, whose profound impact still resonates deeply within me.
In this contemplative hour, my thoughts ascend to His Eminence, Senator Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, OFR, CON—a colossus of moral fortitude, principled courage, and profound insight—who transcended this earthly realm on February 17, 2025, at the venerable age of 97.
Though his mortal frame has returned to the dust, his essence endures eternally, guiding us like the everlasting light proclaimed in Scripture: “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day” (Proverbs 4:18).
As images of Father Christmas grace the festive landscape—bearing gifts that symbolize joy and abundance—I behold in them the archetype of Chief E. K. Clark, the primordial giver whose benevolence flowed from the inexhaustible wellsprings of the soul.
He bestowed no mere earthly riches upon me, yet his gifts were infinite: profound teachings in resilience, equity, and the unyielding quest for justice—virtues that forged the Niger Delta’s destiny and, by divine providence, illuminated my own path.
His life embodied the biblical injunction: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), for his true wealth lay in empowering others, rooted in service, integrity, and a compassion akin to that of the Heavenly Father: “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him” (Psalm 103:13).
I cherish the memory of his daily calls, threads of connection weaving across time; his impassioned responses, igniting the pursuit of truth; his affirmations, elevating the spirit to its God-given potential; even his loving rebukes, refining the soul as “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17).
In his departure, the temporal world dims, yet his legacy radiates, urging us to perpetuate the flame he ignited. Through his mentorship, I inherited the philosophy of political navigation—mastering power’s tempests with grace and audacity, transmuting trials into triumphs—while doors opened to timeless alliances, enriching the intellect, spirit, and humanity.
Chief E.K. Clark transcended the ordinary; he was the indomitable Ijaw patriarch, whose resonant voice advocated for the oppressed, echoing the prophetic call: “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause” (Isaiah 1:17).
His foundations erected pillars of hope, education, unity, and aspiration, reminding us that “a generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25).
Envisioning him as the Eternal Father Christmas, I exalt the metaphysical miracle of influence: true generosity resides in elevating souls to their divine heights, leaving a heritage that outlives the flesh.
This Yuletide, amid hymns of peace and communal embrace, may his exemplar awaken in us a philosophical resolve—to extend mercy, champion righteousness with fearless zeal, and embody selfless love.
Though sorrow intermingles with seasonal gladness, his remembrance kindles an eternal commitment: to live purposefully, give abundantly, and venerate the spiritual fathers who mold our destinies, for “a good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children” (Proverbs 13:22).
Gogorogo!, my Eternal Father Christmas—your gifts unfold perpetually in every deed of kindness we enact.
In this meditative Yuletide luminescence, I render homage with infinite thanksgiving, cognizant that your supreme bequest is an indomitable spirit, converting bereavement into perpetual enlightenment and hope.
