AGENE GODWIN, Benin
As more sympathisers continue to visit the Iheya Benin residence of late Dr.Samuel Ogbemudia, two former deputy governors of the state, Rev Peter Obadan and Dr Pius Odubu have described him as a trailblazer and the president Nigerian people never had.
The former deputy governors noted that Gen Ogbemudia laid a foundation for the economic and political development of the now Edo and Delta states.
The immediate past deputy governor,Dr. Pius Odubu in his condolence message to the family of the late elder statesman noted that by his contributions to humanity he has written his name in gold.
According to him, “Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia was a trailblazer, an officer and a gentleman, a consummate politician and indeed an elder statesman per excellence. No doubt his memories will linger on for a very long time.
“By his contribution to humanity, he has written his name in gold. Certainly the Edo/Delta narrative and indeed the history of Nigeria will not be fully told without a generous mention of his name”, he said.
On his part, Peter Obadan described him not only as a hero of Edo state but a hero of the entire nation.
Obadan said during the Nigeria civil war he helped in liberating the defunct Midwest state from the hold of the Biafra Army.
“Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) is not only a hero of Edo State, he is a hero of the nation. He was there when the nation needed him during the civil war and he helped particularly in the liberation of the defunct Midwest state for which the entire people of the region gratefully remain indebted to him.
“As the governor of the defunct Midwest region and Bendel state he performed beyond the expectations of even his colleagues that Midwest region became number one in everything. He took us to the highest peak.
“Wherever he stepped his foot he excelled. He excelled as minister of Labour and productivity, chairman petroleum monitoring committee and chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation”, he added.
He described the late Ogbemudia as a very humble man that accepted the meek, the rich, the lowly and the poor.
He added that he gave the two states of Edo and Delta a high standard of administration.
Obadan who also added that the elder statesman also excelled in politics noted that the only regret was that he was never presented as a presidential candidate.
Obadan who also added that the elder statesman also excelled in politics noted that the only regret was that he was never presented as a presidential candidate.
“In politics he also excelled and kept asking myself why we never found opportunity in presenting him as a presidential candidate and that is the only thing I found lacking. We limited him to Midwest state and behold a man that was loved across the entire nation and a man who could stand his ground.
“So I will describe him as a president we never had. Today he is gone and I hope the nation not just Midwest (Edo/Delta) will honour him and keep remembering this great man of our time. And I hope that Edo state
will have a time of mourning because he laid a solid foundation for us and we cannot run away from that”, he stated.
will have a time of mourning because he laid a solid foundation for us and we cannot run away from that”, he stated.
