Ogbemudia, a man of many parts

The former governor of old Midwest States, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, who died on Friday March 10, 2017 would be remembered for his doggedness and commitment to the indivisibility of a united Nigeria.

He was indeed a man of many parts who meant so much to many particularly those that were opportuned to come across him. Until his death, he was a pan-Nigerian to the core. He never believed there was need for a divided Nigeria.
  
Meticulous and thorough to a fault, Ogbemudia, in one of his encounters with The Guardian in 2009, when he was approached for an interview, told the reporter to tabulate all questions and that he would respond to them accordingly. His reason was that he doesn’t want to be misquoted.

Throughout his lifetime, Dr. Ogbemudia demonstrated respect for constituted authority. For instance, in January 2009, immediate past governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole ordered that Ogbemudia and some other persons in the state should within 24 hours return vehicles given to them by former governor, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor.

Oshiomhole reasons for giving such order was that the vehicles donated to Ogbemudia and the others were meant for political patronage and as a result declared them as political gifts from an illegal government that was sacked by the courts.
  
To however demonstrate his respect to constituted authority, Ogbemudia said he returned the vehicles even though they were legitimately given based on the state’s pension law for former governors. In a statement Ogbemudia personally signed, he said he was not aware that a former governor, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun did not benefit from the law.
  
“I was elected as civilian governor of old Bendel State of which Edo State was a part and sworn into office on the 1st of October 1983, before the military coup. Pursuant to this law, Governor Igbinedion gave me one vehicle with a promise to bring the other two when the contractor supplies them but could not till he left office.
  
“His successor, Professor Osunbor did via two separate letters dated 24th September 2004 and 19th October 2007.“I have come to conclusion that the development of Edo State must not be interrupted by the interest of one man; that is the interest of Edo is greater than that of an individual. Therefore, I hereby return the two vehicles demanded.”
  
That act elicited mixed reactions and kick started a robust relationship he had with Oshiomhole till he left office. Oshiomhole was later to confide in some friends that he got several bashing across the country for that act, which many described as an embarrassment to an icon like Ogbemudia.  

Oshiomhole, eventually made up with Ogbemudia on his 77 birthday where the immediate past governor used to present a brand new car to the elder statesman. The late elder statesman during his lifetime also seized several occasion to lament absence of true federalism in the country.

In the last interview he had with The Guardian, Ogbemudia appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the administration of President Muhhamdu Buhari.
In his assessment of the government after a year in the office, he said, “Mr. President has not derailed in his policies and programmes.

He also maintained unflinching interest in sport, saying: “Nigeria can do extremely well if it focus more of youths development and training. I was convinced as a youth that all through human history; youth has been used for everything. They fought all the wars; only to finish and the elderly ones will say look you have done well, you can now leave the scene. Sport is something that you can use to galvanise the people.

“In 1964, I was opportuned to be in East Africa where a committee was set up and I joined on how sports should be organised. Today, East Africans are on top, the Kenyans have dominated all the long distance races. We can do that overnight if we identify those people. Those young Fulani boys who travel from Kano to Benin on foot, shepherding the cows, if we teach them how to run marathon, they will do it, they carry spear and they do wonders with it, they will be good throwers of javelin and many more.

Among his legacies as governor of the present Edo and Delta states is the Benin water storm project, which he designed to check erosion menace in Benin City.
 
The Ogbe Sports Stadium, now named the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and in August 1973 he commissioned the three-story National Museum in Benin City. Other projects included the Agbede Mechanized Farm, Rural Electrification Board, Bendel Steel Structures, Bendel Pharmaceuticals, Bendel Boatyard, the University of Benin, Bendel Line (now Edo and Delta Lines), and Ring road Benin City among others.