Alexander Okere, Benin
A former Governor of Edo State, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, on Sunday narrated how the late governor of the defunct Mid-West region and old Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, aided the success of his administration.
Osunbor, who was Governor from May, 2007, to November, 2008, spoke shortly after signing the condolence register at the Benin residence of the elder statesman.
He explained, “He touched me in many positive ways, particularly in my adventure in politics. He was a great tower for me.
“And if I achieved anything worth mentioning in governance in Edo State, and many people know one or two things we were able to do, it was due to the mentorship that we got from him and the advice he gave me.
“You are Governor and posterity is going to judge you by what you were able to achieve. So, you must make a mark,’ he always used to tell me that.”
He continued, “So if I made any mark, it was due to the encouragement, support and the advice I received from Dr. Ogbemudia. He never failed to advise me.
“He never failed to counsel me, not just in governance but even in my personal life.”
“It is not easy to describe the late Samuel Ogbemudia in a few words. But what one can say is that he has left great legacies for humanity.
Osunbor stated that the life lived by the late Ogbemudia was full of so many achievements, particularly those things he did when he was a military governor of the old Mid-West State.
According to him, many of the physical structures of development across the length and breath of what is currently Edo and Delta States were put by the late political leader.
The former governor said, “Of course one of his greatest legacies, the University of Benin, stands to his credit. It is easy to establish universities now. But at that time when he established it, only the Federal Government could establish universities; in fact, there was an embargo.
“But because of his charisma, because of his relationship with the Head of State at that time, Gen. (Yakubu) Gowon, and the respect which he enjoyed, even amongst people in the National Universities Commission, he was able, with great sense, to establish first the Mid-West Institute of Technology. But his eyes was on the establishment of a university.”
He added, “So, he is a great father that we have lost; I feel a great sense of loss, just like his immediate family.
“We can only pray to God Almighty to grant his soul eternal rest and also sustain the family that he has left behind. He did a lot for the children of other people. So, we pray that his own children will never suffer any lack.”
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