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Tag: Dr Samuel Ogbemudia

  • Ogbemudia’s funeral begins

    Ogbemudia’s funeral begins

    Funeral service for former Governor of defunct Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, has begun.

    The glass plated casket bearing his remains arrived the Samuel Ogbemdia stadium, venue of the inter-denominational service, at about 11: 00 a.m.

    The coffin was draped with the Nigerian flag and given military honors.

    Ogbemudia remains was brought to the stadium by soldiers and received by officiating clergy men led by Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Edo State, Rev. Peter Imasuen.

     

  • Senate committee visits Edo, condoles Ogbemudia

    Senate committee visits Edo, condoles Ogbemudia

    The senate on Tuesday sent a seven-member delegation to pay a condolence visit to the family of the late former governor of old Bendel, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia.

    Members of the delegation, which would be led by the Chief Whip, Sen. Olusola Adeyeye, are Sen. Stella Oduah (Anambra-PDP), Sen. Umaru Kurfi (Katsina-APC) and Sen. Gbolahan Dada (Ogun-APC).

    Others are Sen. Barnabas Gemade (Benue-APC), Sen. Abdulaziz Nyako (Adamawa-APC) and Sen. Ben Bruce (Bayelsa-PDP).

    Ekweremadu announced that senators from Edo, who wish to join the delegation, could do so.

    Ogbemudia was former military governor of defunct Midwest region, defunct Bendel state and civilian governor also of Bendel.

    He died on Thursday at a private hospital in Lagos at 84.

  • Tears as Ogbemudia funeral begins

    Tears as Ogbemudia funeral begins

    There was anger among mourners who were at the Benin Airport to receive the body of former Governor of defunct Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, who died of diabetes compilations in Lagos State.

    Some of the mourners complained about the absence of posters and banners of Dr. Ogbemudia at the airport and major streets of Benin City.

    Both Edo and Delta States which made up former Bendel State are collaborating to give late Ogbemudia a State burial.

    A daughter of Ogbemudia whose names could not be ascertained was heard complaining about the preparation to receive her father’s corpse and failure of the committee to provide banners and posters.

    A market woman said she felt sad that many residents in both Edo and Delta states did not turn up to pay late Ogbemudia respect owing to his achievements in both states.

    Governors of Edo and Delta State, Godwin Obaseki and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa led dignitaries to receive the body.

    Other dignitaries were Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Justin Okonoboh, Chief of Staff to Governor Okowa, Hon Festus Ovie-Agás, Secretary to the Edo State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, Deputy Speaker, Elisabeth Ativie amongst others.

    The Nigeria Airforce plane tagged 029 that conveyed the remains of Ogbemudia landed at the Benin Airport at about1:20pm.

    Some family members and military personnel accompanied the corpse from Lagos State.

    Market women sang dirge in tears and walked slowly behind the black ambulance that conveyed the corpse to the Airport gate.

    Children of late Ogbemudia led by the eldest son, Samuel Ogbemudia (Jnr) wore long faces as the corpse arrived.

    At the residence of Ogbemudia, the corpse was kept in a room away from public view and security men were placed at the doors to prevent anybody from going in.

    The youths of the community took to the street of Iheya displaying the portrait of late Samuel Ogbemudia.

    Amongst those who were at the residence to pay tribute were former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, the member representing Orhionmwon/Ohunmwonde federal constituency, Mr. Patrick Aisowieren, Dr. Samuel Imuekemhe, Chairman Local Government Service Commission and Elder Tes Soare.

    Odili said late Ogbemudia left an indelible footprint and his memories would stand the test of time.

    In his tribute he said, “You left indelible materials and human footprints. Your impact will last forever. You were a legend. You came at a trying time for the nation. You rose to the challenge and left an indelible foot print, materials and human. Your legacy will last forever. We are going to miss him. He inspired a lot of us, and by the special grace of God, the things he left will live on.

    “Leaders should emulate the style of general Ogbemudia.  He served the people wholeheartedly. He puts self behind, and the interest of the people above everything else. We really missed him, we did not know that it will happen now but in everything, we give glory to God.”

    Governor Obaseki in a chat with newsmen said, “We spent quite a bit of time in private and in public and he admonished me and assured me of his support.

    “I cannot forget the encouragement he gave to me. Without his open and clear endorsement, my campaign would have been much more difficult.”

    Governor Okowa in a brief chat with Journalists said late ‘Ogbemudia cannot die in the memories of Bendelites as his works are testimonies of his service to humanity.’

    “Today, a lot of structures stand in his name; he still lives through his works. We have lost an elder statesman for Delta and Edo States.

    Late Ogbemudia had written down details of how he wanted to be buried and among his wish were that his body should not be displayed for public view.

    He also said he should be buried within seven days of his death.

     

     

     

     

  • Ogbemudia’s remains arrive Benin

    Ogbemudia’s remains arrive Benin

    The body of former governor of defunct Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, has arrived Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Ogbemudia died of diabetes complications in Lagos last week.

    The ex- governor’s remains landed at the Benin Airport at 1:20 p.m. aboard a Nigeria Airforce jet 029.

    Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his Delta State counterpart, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, received the body at the airport.

    Market women, family members and politicians were also at the airport to catch a glimpse of the ex-governor’s remains.

    Some military personnel escorted the corpse from Lagos State.

    Ogbemudia’s body was being taken to his house at Iheya Street at the time of filing this report.

     

  • We will miss a good man, say neighbours

    We will miss a good man, say neighbours

    Neighbours of a former governor of defunct Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, on Iheya streets and environs off New Lagos Street have said that they would miss a good man.

    Iheya Street is not a high brow area in Benin City.

    It was former Governor Adams Oshiomhole that rescued residents from perennial flooding by constructing all the 12 streets that linked Iheya with sidewalks and street lights.

    The residents, who spoke to newsmen, said the presence of Dr. Ogbemudia made them have access to constant power supply.

    Many of them have visited the deceased’s residence to sign the condolence register.

    Zonal Accountant of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Pastor Joshua Effiong, recalled it was late Ogbemudia that gave them electricity when they first moved to the area.

    He said: “I worked with the national commission for mass literacy. Our office moved into Edo State 2004. Before that time, this place was a bushy environment.

    “When we came in, he assisted us in putting this place in order. In fact, he gave us direct line and we were using his own light for a quite a while.

    “He has been a good neighbour. When we have the problem of water, we go there to fetch water.

    “And during his birthday, he gave everybody access to his compound. So, Ogbemudia was a nice man.

    “Really for few days he has not been around, there has been darkness because the light from his compound always reflect to this area. We missed him a lot.

    “He was a cool headed man, a man that can accommodate people. A man that accepted all people and not really mind that you must be an Edo man,” he said.

    State Secretary of Spray Painters Association, Comrade Andrew Ehigiamusoe, whose mechanic workshop is adjacent to Ogbemudia’s house, described him as a good man that loved everybody.

    “The man is a very good man. In this state, he did many things that have made the state to develop.

    “You can see everybody mourning. We are in the state of sober reflection. We are even crying for him now. He was a good man to us.

    “I prayed that God should grant him rest and whatever sins he has committed that God should forgive him.

    “Look at this road. He was the person who made it to be like this. If he were not residing here, I do not think that the comrade governor would have constructed this road. We missed him so much,” he said.

    Ehis Aigberemolen, a mechanic, said late Ogbemudia respected landlords in the area and gave them gifts.

    “The man was a good man who respected the land lords. He has given clothes, cows and other items to the people of the street. Whenever Ogbemudia is around, BEDC does not interrupt the light.

    “What I want the federal government to do is to give him a befitting burial.

    “ He spent over 24 years in this quarter but if it were to be some big men, they would have asked us to relocate our mechanic workshop from this area.

    “But since I came, he has not harassed us but instead whenever he is celebrating his birthday, he invites us to join him in the celebration and gifts are usually given to us,” he said.

    For Reverend Tina Solomon, late Ogbemudia was like a father figure to all in the community. “He has been there for every one of us both in the street and especially in this very family.

    “Anybody that has an encounter with this man will know that he was a God sent especially to the family of late pastor Tina Solomon and my grandmother, late madam Modupe Poopola.

    “I will miss his kindness, generosity and his love for mankind. He does not discriminate even we in the street will live to remember him always”.

  • Ogbemudia former Mid-West Governor is dead

    Ogbemudia former Mid-West Governor is dead

    Former Governor of the Mid-West State, Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia is dead.
    He reportedly died on Thursday night in a private hospital.
    More details soon.

  • God answered my prayers to end well – Oshiomhole 

    God answered my prayers to end well – Oshiomhole 

    After the death of his wife, Clara, in 2010 following a three years battle with cancer, Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole vowed to build a well-equipped hospital that will end medical tourism in Nigeria. The hospital, according to Oshiomhole, when completed will also be a cancer screening centre where the disease could be diagnosed early.

    It was an elated Oshiomhole that on Tuesday declared that God has answered his prayers to finish strong and to finish well. He made the declaration when President Mohammadu Buhari visited the state to inaugurate projects among them a new five-star Central hospital as Oshiomhole promised.

    Other projects inaugurated by President Buhari were the dual carriage way Upper Siluko road, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia College formerly New Era College, the 7.3km Ugbegun-Ujiogba-Ebudin-Igueben-Ewohinmi-Ohordua-Emu road that connects five local government in Edo Central senatorial district and the new Edo University, Iyamho in Estako West Local Government.

    All the projects executed by Oshiomhole that were inaugurated by President Buhari were projects that critics said were impossible due to dwindling financial resources. For over 15 years, the Upper Siluko road was impassable. Flood sacked over 150 landlords in the area. The ruling Peoples Democratic Party told the people it was impossible to construct the road because of mermaid spirit in the flood. Residents in Egor village and other communities had to pay over N200 to get to the Benin City centre because of the bad road but today they pay only N70 while many landlords have returned to their houses even as economy activities have bounced back.

    The Dr. Ogbemudia College was one of the three model secondary schools Governor Oshiomhole promised to build in each of the three senatorial district in 2009. It is equipped with a laboratory, library, a standard hall with floor tiles and PVC ceilings. 

    Before Oshiomhole constructed the 7.3km Ugbegun-Ujiogba-Ebudin-Igueben-Ewohinmi-Ohordua-Emu road, it was difficult to transverse the five local government areas in Edo Central. The road has reduce travel time within the localities.

    The Benin Central hospital which the new five-star hospital now replaces was first built in 1902 with only 10 beds. Successive administration saw the bed space expanded to about 200 but the hospital lacked modern medical facilities including x-ray machine.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the hospital, Oshiomhole said the hospital was fitted with the latest technology and that the contract for equipping the hospital was given to a reputable firm. He said the hospital will deliver quality health care in 11 key areas.

    According to him, “We demolished a portion of the old hospital built in 1902 and built this new hospital. My own idea is that public health institutions should not be inferior to private health institutions.

    “I almost wept when I first visited this hospital. What I found here was shocking and I concluded that even if a healthy man visited the hospital, the healthy would be admitted the next day.”

    “This hospital is fitted with the latest technology in health care delivery. This hospital will not be run as public service.

    “We will make that effort to work are rewarded and not for those that want to embark on strike.”

    On the six-lane Upper Siluko road which was completed with street lights, walkways and underground drains, Governor Oshiomhole said he decided to put resources where it would maximum impact on the lives of the people.

    Oshiomhole noted that his administration focused on those things that would deliver the greatest happiness to the greatest number of citizens in the shortest possible time. 

    “As you can see, this is not a GRA, but this road leads to where the real people are the real forgotten majority. They are the ones we use for census purposes so that we can attract revenue allocation. They are the ones who queue to vote, whether it is raining or it is sunny, without whom we democrats cannot be in office. But oftentimes, when they have finished, they are forgotten until the next four years. We have tried to bond with them by addressing the critical areas of their needs. That informed the choice of this area.

    “I am glad that this road has opened up two other local government areas, and it has made life a lot easier. I want to thank the Enogie, I want to thank His Royal Majesty, Omo n’Oba n’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II for his support without which it could have been impossible to do some of the things we had to do. 

    “I am grateful to Mr President for graciously accepting to come to commission this major project.”

    President Buhari who took out time to inspect all the projects described them as very solid and of high quality.

    Speaking at the commissioning of the Ugbegun-Ujiogba-Ebudin-Igueben-Ewohinmi-Ohordua-Emu road, President Buhari said Oshiomhole had shown the importance of rural roads to the economic and security lives of the people.

    Buhari said he ask Oshiomhole who owned the central hospital edifice when he first saw it without knowing it was the project he was coming to inaugurate.

    He said: “the quality of the projects I was made to commission, are very, very solid, whether it’s the roads, the educational institutions or the hospital.  Certainly, Governor Oshiomhole is lucky to last his two terms and to engrave his name in a golden historical plate.

    “I believe the roads and the bridges will bring more people to live more comfortably and securely. He has done for well for the people. He built a good hospital, again he served the people.

    “I congratulate the incoming Governor, I thank him for his stamina going through the primaries and going through the elections and importantly, winning it.

    “We believe this system, the multi-party democracy system is the best for us. We are doing best because we found ourselves as part of this great country called Nigeria. We are blessed with human and material resources. We made a terrible mistake in allowing ourselves to be cornered into a mono-economy and we are now paying dearly for our mistake.

    “Now we have to go back to the land, solid minerals and do a lot of savings so that we can leave a lot of savings for our children and grandchildren.

    “I very much congratulate the Governor, he has shown a lot of foresight by the quality of infrastructure he has put on the ground. May God reward him abundantly.

    “I stand here to congratulate Adams Oshiomhole for his foresight, for his hard work and for his personal integrity. I hope when he successfully hands over, he will take some leave away from the local problems maybe for a couple of months, before he comes back to square one.”

  • Obaseki: Oshiomhole hands-over Friday

    Obaseki: Oshiomhole hands-over Friday

    Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole will on Friday hand-over power to the Governor-elect, Mr Godwin Obaseki.

    Obaseki and his Deputy, Mr Philip Shaibu will, however, be sworn-in on Saturday at the Dr Samuel Ogbemudia stadium by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Cromwell Idahosa.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the  Edo University, Iyamho, Oshiomhole confirmed he will hand over on Friday.

    He said God has answered his prayers to finish well and to finish strong.

    Several flagship projects of the Oshiomhole administration including the new 200-bed Central Hospital, 6-lane Siluko road; Samuel Ogbemudia College, reclaimed Queen Edo gully erosion site, the Ugbegun-Ujiogba-Ebudin-Igueben-Ewohinmi road, Edo University, Iyamho, Second East Circular road and schools have been inaugurated since on Monday.

    Obaseki polled 319,483 votes to defeat Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party who got 253,173 votes.

  • Ogbemudia group screens Obaseki

    Ogbemudia group screens Obaseki

    A socio-political group, the Edo Mass Movement led by two time governor of the defunct Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, has screened candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Godwin Obaseki.

    The group had last week promised to interface with all the candidates and come up with a position on whose candidate to support for the September 10 governorship election.

    Dr Ogbemudia who spoke after the meeting simply said, “is this not the man you people said does not talk?”

    Obaseki promised to eliminate any form of double taxation in form of extortion to reduce the tax burden of the people of the state.

    He said it was regrettable that the tax regime of the state government was politicized by the PDP just to give the state government a bad name.

    When questioned about issue of pensioners in the state, Obaseki said it was unfair to blame Oshiomhole’s administration for the plight of pensioners.

    He noted that ‘if those who were in government between 1999 – 2007 had paid these gratuities and pensions when they were there, this problem we have now wouldn’t have occurred.

    “When government builds roads, it is not 160,000 persons alone enjoy it. Don’t be deceived by anybody who comes to tell you that you will not pay tax. There is no government in the world that doesn’t collect taxes. We have been told on the incidences of double taxation, and we are working on it. As a government, we will stop the incident of double taxation. We will stop the problem of extortion,”

    “When we came, we met gratuity and pension arrears from 1997 and we had a choice of paying only those who retired from 2008 when we came, but we didn’t, instead, we had to start defraying the arrears from 1997.

    “Currently, we have done up to 2013. That is where we are right now and we would have done others but for the economic challenges. We are however working to sort this out as soon as possible.”

  • Oshiomhole’s successor must have courage, personal convictions – Ogbemudia

    Oshiomhole’s successor must have courage, personal convictions – Ogbemudia

    Former governor of defunct Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia has said that the successor to Governor Adams Oshiomhole must be somebody who could combine knowledge and ability to take the state to the promise land.

    Dr. Ogbemudia said the successor should not take the state back to Egypt and should be somebody that has the courage of personal convictions.

    Ogbemudia urged the people to listen to Governor Oshiomhole “so that we can journey to the land of our dreams.”

    The former governor spoke Wednesday at the first lecture series organised by the Edo Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.

    Dr. Ogbemudia described Oshiomhole as a man that knows where the shoe “pinched yesterday, is pinching today and likely pinch tomorrow.”

    According to him, “All through human history, when a people were faced with challenges for survival, everyone made sacrifices. We will be told later what is expected of us. My appeal will be that all hands must be on deck in our quest for survival and this state must lead the way.”

    Chairman of the occasion, Chief David Edebiri, the Esogban of Benin urged the Nigerian press to support anti-corruption crusades of the Federal Government.

    Chief Edebiri noted that President Mohammadu Buhari has shown the zeal and political will to prosecute the anti-corruption war to its logical conclusion.

    He said, “I am convinced that the change revolution of President Buhari is still very much on course despite the initial hiccups created by some members who had laid an ambush for the new administration in order to achieve their personal desires.”