Anioma group urges government to immortalise Odogwu, Osadebey, Enahoro, others

Anioma Media Professionals (AMP) have appealled to the Federal and Delta State governments to immortalise prominent indigenes of Delta and Edo states who have contributed immensely in the building of modern Nigeria by at least naming streets and public monuments after them.

While commending Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for the naming of the Asaba township stadium after the late football legend, Mr. Stephen Keshi, AMP, in a statement by its president, Mr. Hugo Odiogor, said it is improper that such men and women not to be forgotten.

It listed them to include the late Chief Dennis Osadebey, the country’s second senate president and first premier of the Midwest region; Chief Jereton Mariere, first governor of Midwest; Pa Anthony Enahoro, who moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence in 1957; Chief Sony Iwedike Odogwu, who passed on recently; Olorogun Michael Ibru; Olorogun Felix Ibru, the first elected civilian governor of Delta State; Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, first minister of Finance, Brig-Gen. Samuel Ogbemudia; Maj-Gen. David Ejoor; as well as Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark and Prof. Grace Alele-Williams, first female vice chancellor (University of Benin) in the country, among others.

According to AMP: “It is disheartening to drive through the length and breadth of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) without finding the names of these prominent individuals among the notable streets in the country’s seat of power.

“It is equally sad to drive through Asaba and Warri without finding the names of people like Mariere, Alele-Williams, Chief Humphrey Omo-Osagie and other founding fathers of the Midwest region, later, Bendel, now Edo and Delta states in prominent places that would remind the young generations of these men. 

“This is contrary to the letter and spirit of our national anthem that says ‘the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain.’ Those that have served Nigeria with their heart and should never be forgotten as soon as they quit the stage.”