The immediate past governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole yesterday said he drew from the fountain of knowledge of the late Samuel Ogbemudia in various areas of governance.
The ex-governor made the assertion when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the former governor of the defunct Midwest region and old Bendel State in Benin City.
Oshiomhole, who consoled the widow of the deceased, Mrs. Clara, said Ogbemudia’s death came as a shock, noting that both his biological and political families shared the pain of his loss.
Oshiomhole, who was accompanied by his ex-deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, his former Chief of Staff, Patrick Obahiagbon, and the present governor of the state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, recalled that he had drawn from the late Ogbemudia’s knowledge in various aspects of governance, adding that beneficiaries of his service would forever be grateful to him.
Oshiomhole 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 projects after him, as I tried to do as a token of acknowledgement of his outstanding contribution in laying the foundation for our state.
“But across the length and breath of Edo and Delta states, you find roads in otherwise unknown rural areas that was done by Ogbemudia’s government. Those children who drive on those roads, those elders and even the yet unborn will hear and read about these stories.”
On his part, Obaseki said 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 the late Ogbemudia laid.
“He built bridges across the country. If you go to Delta State or come to Edo State, his footprints are all over there. Is it in the educational sector? You will remember UNIBEN. That is why this administration has said that the foundation he laid, we will continue from it, because in building on that foundation through vocational studies, our children will come back to life to be self-employed,” he said.
