By: Eben Enasco Kingsley (Benin City)
Dr Samuel osaigbovo Ogbemudia was the military administrator of the defunct Midwestern state,and the governor of the then Bendel state now Edo and Delta State.
On the occasion of his 83rd Birth day,he was described by captains of industries and pundits as an interesting work of genius that keeps one pondering of the realizations of the story of infinity as every researches conducted on his personality produces new experience.
The rave of the moment, born four scores three ago, at abehe street,ogbe quarters, Benin City is still soldiering with new ideology which almost certainly make his admirers wonders how so gifted he was and still is in his prime days as a younger general and now.
Brigadier Ogbemudia, no doubt, is a repute with a signal of greatness even though in his early age, he had moment of physical challenges in domestic accidents and illness which was gathered, almost hamper his potentials of a great destiny but survived the horror.
Relatedly, like every other child,he learned to sit,walk,fall,rise,and run but not many who witness his youthful exorbitance would imagine him grew up attributed as an Icon, a sterling leader, and a genuine democrat .
The journey to greatness kick-started during his primary education at Benin Baptist School between 1938 and 1945 then proceeded to Government School, Victoria in the Cameroons.It was also gathered that between 1947 and 1951 he attended Western Boys High School in Benin city.
in fullness of time,at 21-yr-old,he enrolled and got enlisted in the Nigeria Army in 1953 where he was trained in Zaria and Teshie Ghana in 1957 respectively. Between1960 and 61, he was commissioned in the ranks of 2nd lieutenant at the officers cadet school,Aldershot England.
As part of his military engagements,he was deployed to the United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Congo now DRC for 16-month,and also led a small band of soldiers of the Nigerian Army whose guerilla activities in the face of gross military disadvantage succeeded in frustrating the swift advancement of the rebel forces beyond Midwest in the march to nations capital Lagos.Amidst this, he managed to escape and reported back to the military command in Lagos where he subsequently joined Lt.Col. Murtala Mohammed second division and appointed temporary military administrator of the liberated Midwest. Six-week later,he was appointed Military Governor on November 13,1967.
Not done however,given by his performance,he was again saddled with a political responsibility that opened a new chapter as an administrator replete with evidences of ubiquitous,monumental,and pace setting achievements.
Promptly for who he is,the octogenarian swung into action and his first point of call was road infrastructure where the hallmark of relevance of his developmental philosophy set in quintessential means to Forster interaction and integration among the people. it is on records that his administration opened up the Benin City to rural concept of modernity. No wonder Comrade Adams Oshiomhole described his legacies as the most outstanding elder statesman with peerless visionary leadership quality.
To ensure that education was within the reach of the average Midwestern child,he tackled it with profound understanding particularly for the need of structure and contents.He did not only built but ensures that the approach to teaching was proper, whilst motivation for scholarship also available. Most established notable tertiary colleges in the state precisely University of Benin, College of Education Agbor, College of Agric. Asaba were done in during his administration.
In communication, Brig. Ogbemudia thought it wise to bridge the gap between the government and the governed when he established The Midwest TV,now NTA, and the Bendel Newspaper Corporation, publishers of the Nigerian Observer to bring information to the door steps of the people.
To meet the health needs of his people, he deepens the health provisions in the Midwest with the establishment of the Specialist Hospital, General Hospitals in major towns and heath centers in rural communities. He also established Bendel Pharmaceutical Company for the production of basic drugs.
Dr. Ogbemudia also delved into a recreational activities when he established the Ogba Zoological gardens. This monument became a mecca of relaxation. Today, no other administration has surpassed this achievements.
It would be unfair to consign his achievements to Midwest/Bendel alone. His exploits in the past made him held among others positions as the minister of labour and productivity,chairman, national sports commission and presently, chairman, governing board of the university of Abuja.
Retired but not tired,the most celebrated Governor of all time seems not to be done yet ,following his newest ideology in launching Osaigbovo Ogbemudia Foundation and public lecture geared towards sustainable Democracy in Nigeria;the role of political parties” to mark his 83rd birth day anniversary at Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre Benin City.
Speaking on the occasion,the governor of Delta State,Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa remarked that the driving force behind the initiative is a man with unique place in history whose antecedents as a military governor speaks powerfully to the subject of good governance.
“let me begin by commending the osaigbovo ogbemudia foundation for the noble vision of promoting good governance.i therefore consider it a privileged to be chosen to address this gathering on the occasion of your birth day. i grew up in the old Bendel State when Dr Ogbemudia was military governor and the state was the toast of other states in Nigeria.As governor, i have made it a mission to take delta state to the status of the pacesetter in the Nigeria Federation just like Bendel of the old.
Your story shall be like that of the Biblical moses whom the bible recorded did not lose his physical strength nor did his eyes dimmed even at the advanced age of 120,”he said.
Earlier,the chief host of the event, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole,described Him as a man with the heart of Gold and passion for the people, adding that at the level he is now he is no more a father to any political group but to all.
“I want to urge you to please be our father not their father. Because at this age you have nothing to prove”, he remarked Eighty-three and still counting in his dignified old age, Ogbemudia has become a reference point in good governance in Nigeria landscape.His past time among other productive engagements has provided informal consultancy to those in search of repository politics and administrative direction.
