Renowned poet and Emeritus Professor of Literature, John Pepper Clark Bekederemo has dropped pen at age 85.

The professor’s death was announced in a statement by Prof. C. C. Clark and Ilaye Clark, members of the deceased family.

It 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 onto 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.”

John pepper Clark Bekederemo, born on April 6, 1935, was one of Nigeria’s foremost anglophone dramatists and poets.

Meanwhile, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Tuesday paid glowing tribute to a Clark, saying he left an indelible mark in the literary world.

Buhari’s tribute to the deceased was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, titled “President Buhari pays tribute to JP Clark.”

The statement reads partly, “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.Renowned poet and Emeritus Professor of Literature, John Pepper Clark, is dead.

Other well meaning Nigerians have extend their condolences to the family saying his death is a huge loss to the literary world.