President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with late Dr Samuel Ogbemudia’s family and the government and people of Edo State on his death.
Ogbemudia died at 84 in a Lagos hospital.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina in Abuja on Friday, Buhari joined the family and other admirers in mourning the elder statesman.
Buhari noted that the deceased had diligently served the country with courage and dedication at crucial moments in her history, both as military governor and a democratically elected civilian governor.
Buhari said Ogbemudia had a distinguished career as a military officer, administrator and Minister, adding that he left an impressive legacy of hardwork, discipline and commitment to communal, state, regional and national development.
The President recalled “the unique role of the elder statesman in the nation’s return to civilian rule in 1999 and trusts as a tireless advocate for equity’’.
He said the deceased would be long remembered and honoured for his dedication to the advancement of his people, especially in the fields of education, social welfare and infrastructure.
Buhari prayed that God Almighty would comfort his family, friends and well wishers, and grant his soul eternal rest.
Ogbemudia was a former governor of the defunct Midwest region and old Bendel State
While announcing the death, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, said in a statement:
“It is with sadness but glory to God Almighty that the Government of Edo State announces the death, in the early hours of today, of Brigadier General Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia (rtd).
“Dr. Ogbemudia served as Military Governor of the Mid-West State from 1967 to 1975 and civilian Governor of the old Bendel State from October 1983 to December 1983.
“He was also a former Minister of Labour and Productivity, former Chairman of Petroleum Products Monitoring Company, and Chairman Governing Council of the University of Abuja.
“A fine Military officer who helped to liberate the Mid-West region during the Civil War, under his administration, Bendel became a leading state in education, sports and industry.
“As two time Governor of Bendel, which comprised present-day Edo and Delta states, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia will be fondly remembered for the strong foundation that he laid to consolidate the infrastructural, social and economic development of both states.
“Amongst his several milestone achievements was the Mid-West Institute of Technology, which is now the University of Benin.
“As we mourn our great leader and father, we take solace in the legacies he bequeathed Edo State and indeed Nigeria
“As a mark of honour, I hereby declare seven days of mourning commencing from today.
“May the soul of General (Dr.) Samuel Ogbemudia rest in peace”.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, also condoled with the Government and people of Edo State over the death.
Dogara, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan, described Ogbemudia as a leader who left indelible and iconic legacies.
“Ogbemudia’s contributions to the development of the state during his term as military governor of the defunct Mid-Western and later Bendel State remains indelible and iconic.
“His later election as civilian governor of present Edo State was, perhaps, the most befitting testimony of his performance rating by the people of the state,’’ the Speaker said.
While urging leaders to borrow a leaf from the selfless service the late elder statesman demonstrated during his lifetime, Dogara stressed that emphasis should be on building legacies that would outlive them.
“In the short time Ogbemudia had in public office he held, left a lasting legacy in the hearts of people, especially those from the old Mid-West region and Bendel State in particular.
“He is a reminder that we, as leaders, must engage in activities that will promote the growth, development and well-being of our people,’’ Dogara added.
The speaker prayed God to console the family he left behind, grant them the fortitude to bear the loss and eternal rest to his soul.
Former Minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh, said Ogbemudia would be sorely missed because he carried out a lot of development in the old Mid-Western State and Bendel State.
“Everyone who ever worked in old Bendel State, now Edo, has always looked at what he did as a yardstick,’’ he said.
In sports, the former minister said that if what the late governor did in swimming had been followed through, many world class swimmers would have been produced by now.
“He was a personal friend and will be sorely missed. Ogbemudia really worked hard, he was the most dedicated leader we had.
“Nothing will be too much to immortalise him further,’’ he said.
Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, presidential candidate of KOWA Party in the 2015 election, described Ogbemudia as a towering figure in the national and political sphere of the country.
” His contribution to the progress and development of the nation’s polity will be long remembered.
” I urge the bereaved family members to remain strong in the knowledge that we are holding them in our thoughts and prayers, ” she said.
Mr Samuel Ogbemudia (Jnr.), the eldest child of the late Ogbemudia, said on Friday that his father prepared his grave before his death.
The younger Ogbemudia told newsmen at their `Iheya’ family house that the elder statesman prepared his grave some years ago beside that of his late mother within the family compound.
Asked if his late father gave any reason for his action, the son said:”Anybody can do that.”
On what he would miss about his late father, Ogbemudia (Jnr.) said: “I will miss everything about him.
“I and all those who had contact with him, have all learnt a great deal from him. He was a father, not just to his children, but to all. He was a great man,’’ he said.
Mrs Elizabeth Ativie, Deputy Speaker, Edo House of Assembly, also described the late Ogbemudia as a detribalised Nigerian.
Ativie said that Ogbemudia’s transition was a sad loss to the nation.
She described Ogbemudia as an elder statesman and an apostle of democracy who maintained a firm belief in the rule of law and fair play.
“The news was shocking; we have lost a leader and bridge builder. He has contributed a lot to sustain democracy and the development of the nation.
“He is a good adviser, no matter the issue you take to him, you are sure that you will get good advice from him,” she said.
According to her, the power of life and death is in the hand of God. We have to accept it as the will of God.
“I condole with the members of the deceased’s family and pray God to grants them the fortitude to bear the loss. We will miss his fatherly advice.”
A National Leader and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Gentleman Amegor also said that Ogbemudia’s exit was a painful loss.
Amegor, who described the late statesman as his surrogate father, said, ‘’I am consoled with the fact that the late Ogbemudia lived a good life.
“He was my surrogate father and I will really miss him dearly. He was everything to his children and others who were not his biological children.
“We are consoled with the fact that he represented everything good to humanity,” he said.
Samuel Ogbemudia was born in Benin City in 1933 and attended Benin Baptist School (1941–1945), Government school, Victoria in the Cameroons (1945–1947) and later, Western Boy’s High School, Benin City (1947–1949).
Before his involvement in politics, with the restoration of democracy in the country in 1999, he had joined the Nigerian army in 1957 and had his training at Teshie, Ghana as well as at Netheravon and Salisbury Plain in England (1957).
His military career also took him to the officer cadet school at Aldershot, England in 1960, and got commissioned second lieutenant in 1961.
He attended the United States army special welfare school at Fort Bragg, South Carolina in 1962.
Ogbemudia served with the United Nations peacekeeping force in the Congo for 16 months in Tanzania in 1964 and was appointed an instructor to the Nigerian Military School, Zaria the same year.
Ogbemudia was appointed Military administrator of the defunct Mid-West State in September, 1967 and promoted to Lt. Colonel on Oct. 26,1967.
Ogbemudia initiated programmes urban development, education, public transportation, housing and commerce and built the Ogbe sports stadium, now Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.
His military administration was also credited with the establishment of the University of Benin, among others.
