Many Nigerians know the governor of Edo State first as a unionist, in a surprise move his daughter Winnie decided to fete and talk about him. Ebomhiana Musa writes
FOR most locals in his native Iyamoh village, a Saturday offers an opportunity to take a break from their agrarian occupation and enjoy the thrills weekend brings. But for the visiting Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, all days are the same; insofar there is still work to be done to “take Edo to the next level”.
So, penultimate Saturday (August 16), the visiting homeboy was in his usual elements. Even though he was supposed to be “home for the weekend”, the Edo State Governor chose instead to go out and inspect a number of ongoing projects in the Edo North axis. After sweating it out all day on the field; the “People’s Governor” later returned home for a shower and a deserved rest.
But if he ever thought sunset would, as usual, be spent quietly in the midst of close family members and associates in the garden amid folksy jokes, how mistaken he was. For no sooner had the otherwise sharp-witted Edo governor stepped into the patio in the garden in a stripped T-Shirt and trousers than he came to appreciate the length of the web of “conspiracy” cleverly woven around him in the past few days, masterminded by no other than his visiting first daughter (Winnie), aided and abetted by his CSO (Chief Security Officer), Yussuf Haruna and Chief Tony Ezekiel.
Waiting out there to receive the man popularly called “Oshio Baba” tonight was not the regular members of the “inner circle”, but a motley crowd of members of the extended family, childhood friends, political associates and a few others the “conspiratorial gang” thought mean a lot to the governor.
The ambush
Obviously taken aback by the sheer size of the gathering, the Comrade Governor exclaimed, “Oh my God!” his mouth wide open in bewilderment. Without addressing anyone in particular, he continued: “You guys have really made a big fool of me. Can someone tell me what’s going on and who is behind all this?”
Instinctively, the crowd burst into a good-natured laughter at the Comrade Governor’s expense.
Lo and behold, forward stepped petite-framed Winnie: “Daddy, I’m glad we got you flat-footed for once. It is meant to be a surprise party in your honour for being a great dad. My siblings and I agreed on this. I’m sure if I had consulted you beforehand you would not have approved of it or at best, you would have found an excuse to escape from Edo State today.”
On hand to assist Winnie in the execution of the “coup” was her younger sister, Jane.
To avoid the secret leaking, Winnie and other conspirators had opted to send the invite to the occasion discreetly. Those invited were tipped off barely 24 hours to the event and told to keep it secret for obvious reason.
The short notice notwithstanding, the roll-call at Iyamoh was very impressive. From serving commissioners in the state to the Chairman of the State Revenue Service, Chief Oseni Elamah, to Nosa Meggison (who represented the “Lagos gang”), to Mr. Mujahideen Dako, the governor’s childhood friend, to Elder Nureen Etameso (a pharmacist), who spoke on behalf of the extended Oshiomhole clan.
Indeed, it turned out a remarkable evening of sweet speeches and outpouring of emotions spiced with choice wine and the best of African cuisine.
The select guests took turn to eulogise the Comrade for his exemplary sacrifice, giving the children the best in terms of education and instilling in them good values. Today, they are the pride of the family and the society.
In her welcome address, 33-year-old Winnie (Mrs. Owumi) said it all: “Daddy, this is just a token to appreciate all you have done for us your children. Right from our childhood, you taught us to always remember the daughter and son of whom we are. Your total commitment to labour activism over the years meant you were never at home all the time. But the moments you spent with us were always fantastic. You taught us to believe in ourselves, to believe what will last is that which we labour for, not what we inherited.”
And then Winnie’s shocker: “Dad, I recall that despite being your favourite child when I was growing up, you still beat with cane whenever I did anything naughty. Whatever I am today or whatever modest academic achievement I claim today, I owe it to the solid home training you and our late mom gave us.”
Indeed, the riveting story of “Governor Oshiomhole, the good father” could in a way also be taken as a report on “Winnie, the usual prodigy”. From childhood, Winnie had always showed uncommon brilliance. Even though she came tops in the entrance examination to the Air Force Girls Secondary School, Jos in 1992, she was denied admission because of “quota system”. The four slots allocated to “educationally advantaged” Edo State were ceded to the scions of the high and the mighty in Edo State then. She ended up attending Army Children School in Kaduna. When she finally wrote her WAEC exams six years later, she made distinctions in all subjects as well.
She later gained admission to the University of Ibadan to study medicine. She only spent one academic session there before transferring to Lewis University, United States where she graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. According to the school website, Winnie was a star student who won multiple awards for her prodigious brains. These include Illinois Lincoln Laureate Award, the Father Aquinas Award, the President’s Award for Student Volunteerism, the Scholar’s Academy Athena Award for Excellence in Student Writing and a Biology Department Award.
Recalling her graduation day at Lewis University, the proud dad said: “When Winnie’s name was announced as overall best graduating student, I really felt like a giant even though I have a small frame.”
Her exceptional academic performance earned a place at the prestigious Stanford University, United States where she later bagged a Doctor of Medicine degree in June 2006. Thereafter, she undertook general surgery residency, after which she decided to specialise in Urology with a fellowship/sub-specialisation in Paediatric Urology.
That night, amid the chirping of birds on the trees surrounding the garden and gurgling of a nearby stream, speaker after speaker poured encomiums on Winnie for making the family and indeed Nigeria proud in faraway USA.
The climax was when the Comrade Governor himself took the floor to give a testimony. With thick-drawn breath of emotion, he said his only regret was that his wife and mother of Winnie was not alive to witness an occasion like this. A minute silence was earlier observed in her honour.
He continued: “Winnie has always made me proud right from her childhood. I am proud of her accomplishments in her chosen career. For me, what Winnie has also demonstrated is that you don’t favour or disfavour a child based on sex. As parents, we should all endeavour to give the girl child the same treatment we give the male child.”
He described her as exceptionally forthright and humble: “Even today, she doesn’t go about throwing her weight around as a governor’s daughter unlike what the average lady in her shoes would do.
“In fact, tonight I feel really guilty that Winnie has to throw a party for me when it should have been me throwing a party to celebrate her academic accomplishments. But like they say, better be late than never. Tonight, I want to assure Winnie and her co-conspirators that I shall retaliate by staging my own party in her honour for the pride she has brought the Oshiomhole family.”
Indeed, it was a celebration of family values.
