By Oladipo Airenakho
Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has named the rebuilt and remodeled New Era College in Benin City after elder statesman and two-time Governor of the defunct Mid-West State and Bendel states, Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia.
This is the second time the state government under Governor Oshiomhole would be immortalizing Dr. Ogbemudia as the government had, in 2014, built a statue in honor of the former Governor at the state-owned Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
In his speech at a birthday party organized by the State Government to celebrate Dr. Ogbemudia on his 84th birthday, last Saturday, Governor Oshiomhole said: “You came, you saw and you conquered and Edo people are proud.”
Oshiomhole renamed the school Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia College, using the opportunity to tout what he called the achievements of his administration, among which, according to him is the only state that is up-to-date in the payment of salaries in the entire South-South; the only state that increased the minimum wage when others cannot pay it.
“It is my hope this will inspire other people to give their best to our state, to our country so that role models shall be formed within us. God bless you. God bless your family, and if you ask me, may God give you another eighty-four years.”
Oshiomhole poured encomiums on Dr. Ogbemudia, saying: “I just want to say, we are very proud of you and we thank God for your life. We are celebrating an example of how just one man can lay such a solid foundation for generations upon generations to build on.
“So, our leader, Dr. Ogbemudia, I am proud of you. Edo people are proud of you. Nigerians who know you are proud of you and even children yet unborn will be proud of you when they read the history of your contributions to the growth and development of Midwest Region, Bendel State, and Edo State.
He noted that the elder statesman was a symbol of respect by people across the country, cutting across all the divides for his patriotism, doggedness, commitment, honesty of purpose, leadership by example, and unwavering commitment to building and supporting one indivisible Nigeria.
“May God continue to give you long life, good health that more and more of your effort is required even in times like this to remind us that nations are built by citizens, citizens that are inspired, citizens that believe in the future.”
Responding, the chief celebrant who was elated by the honor done him said his mission on the occasion was not to come and praise the Governor, but to catalogue what he described as his achievements “so that the verdict of history will be in your favor.”
You have done wonderfully well, he noted, saying: “Nowhere in this state, nowhere in this region, in all the six political regions can you find a building like this (new Era College Hall) meant for a College. So, you have done wonderfully well. It is said that it is better to make history than to write it. You have made history today and you will always be remembered and your memory will never fail.”
Dr. Ogbemudia appealed to the people of Edo State to vote for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the September 28, 2016 gubernatorial election in the state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.
“September is a day of decision, a day on which we will decide our future. We have two options, either to remain as we are and nothing happens and two years hence, we will be looking for boats to travel on the roads because it would have been flooded or we work hard, get the right person to carry on from where Comrade will leave it. So, that option is staring us in the face.”
“For me, I choose the option to get somebody who understands good governance to carry on from where Comrade Oshiomhole will leave it. He has done enough. He has left sufficient evidence for historians to appreciate, and many years hence they will be falling on each other to determine what made you do this or that. And I think you have wonderful wisdom and that wisdom will live with you forever.”
“Two days ago, when the Governor told me that there would be a banquet, I thought it was a joke and I never knew that he will be able to bring together so many people as we have seen here today. So, I do believe that if he can get these people together like this to vote for Obaseki, the victory is already assured.”
The APC governorship candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki who had earlier given his tributes to Dr. Ogbemudia said: “We are so happy to still have you around with us. I am aspiring to fill your shoes. You have been twice governor in the state and I am aspiring to be governor for the first time.
And my inspiration is largely you. My assurance comes from the fact that you are one leader who I met after I decided to run for governor. You would recall that I have met you about three times, and each of those times, you have meticulously guided me and told me about what to do and what to emphasize as governor of Edo State.”
Obaseki assured that he would not fail Edo people, adding: “the fact that we are here today, this school, New Era was your idea. We want to thank our Comrade Governor for taking that idea forward, and by the grace of God, I will take it even further.”
“So, the assurance is that you laid a foundation for us as a people and as a state. The last development plan for Midwest and Edo was under your term. The last master plan was designed by you.
“My responsibility is to now continue from where Adams Oshiomhole has stopped to create that new design and place our people where they should be in the next century.”
Is the Governor also paying pensions?