Alexander Okere, Benin
Condolences and eulogies continued to pour in on Saturday for the former Governor of the Mid-West region and old Bendel State, late Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, who died in Lagos at the age of 84, after a long battle with diabetes.
Among the early sympathisers, who called at the Benin residence of the late elder statesman and consoled his widow, Mrs Clara, were the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and the immediate past Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, who described him as Godsend and a leader who laid a solid foundation for Edo and Delta.
Other dignitaries include Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu; a former Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Samson Uwaifo; Col. Paul Ogbebor and his wife, Anna; a Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Elizabeth Ativie.
Oshiomhole who noted that Ogbemudia’s demise came as a shock, said that the pain from his loss was shared by both his biological and political families.
The former governor, who was accompanied by his ex-deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu; and his former Chief of Staff, Patrick Obahiagbon, recalled that he had drawn from the huge fountain of knowledge of the late Ogbemudia in various aspects of government and governance, adding that the beneficiaries of his (late Ogbemudia) service to humanity would forever be grateful to him.
He said, “I am sure, therefore, that even at this hour of pain, grief and shock, we must find sufficient consolation from the fact that our leader immortalised his own name before he left. Immortalising is not by naming project, as I tried to do as a token acknowledgement of his outstanding contribution in laying the foundation for our state.
“But across th length and breath of Edo State and Delta State, you find roads in otherwise unknown rural areas that was done by Ogbemudia’ government. Those children who drive on those roads, those elders and even the yet unborn will hear and read about these stories.”
Governor Godwin Obaseki said that the former military administrator would be fondly remembered for building the bridge of development in the defunct Bendel State.
Obaseki, who was represented by his Deputy, Philip Shaibu, however, noted that Edo would continue to sustain the remarkable foundation laid.
He said, “He built bridges across the country. If you go to Delta State or come to Edo State, all his footprints are all over there. Is it in the educational sector? You will remember UNIBEN.
“That is why this administration has said that that foundation he laid, we will continue from it because building on that foundation he laid through vocational studies, our children will come back to life to be self-employed.”
On his part, a former governor of the state, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, described him as a man of great intellect, whose uncommon foresight brought unprecedented development in the former Mid-West region and defunct Bendel State.
Igbinedion, in a statement on Saturday, said, “I remember his valuable advice while I served as Governor of the state, which contributed to the modest achievements my administration recorded.”
While praying God to grant his soul eternal rest, the former governor enjoined his immediate family, the people of Edo and Delta States and Nigerians, in general, to take solace in the numerous achievements of the late icon.
In his response, the eldest son of the deceased, Samuel Ogbemudia (Jnr.), appreciated the leaders for their support throughout the lifetime of his father.
He also lauded the efforts of Oshiomhole in repositioning the state, through the development of infrastructure in various sectors.
from Punch Newspapers http://ift.tt/2mcdfwu
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