I’ll build on Ogbemudia’s legacy —Obaseki

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, on Saturday, said he would build on the legacies of late former governor of the defunct Bendel State, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, to transform the state.

He made the pledge, when he visited the family to condole with the members in Benin.

Obaseki, who was represented by his the  state deputy Governor, Mr Philip Shaibu, said Ogbemudia did great work in different spheres of development in the state.

Meanwhile, there are indications that the deceased will be buried in Benin on Friday, this week.

The choice of the date for the burial was discussed Saturday night when Governor Godwin Obaseki paid a condolence visit to the Ogbemudia family.

The governor was received by wife of the late Dr Ogbemudia, Mrs Clara Ogbemudia, and eldest son of the late Dr Ogbemudia, Samuel Ogbemudia (Jnr), who informed the governor that the family had planned to kick-start burial activities ahead of the burial.

Governor Obaseki, however, advised the family to respect the wishes of Dr Ogbemudia that he be buried as soon as possible.

He suggested that if the late Dr Ogbemudia burial wishes was to be respected, his burial could not be delayed beyond Friday, pointing out that Tuesday would be too far to take a decision if the burial was to be done on Friday.

He, however, fixed Sunday for a meeting with the family so that a final decision would be taken, intimating that the burial would be a state burial.

The governor therefore directed his Chief of Staff, Taiwo Akerele, to set up a committee for the burial.

In his remark on Dr Ogbemudia, Obaseki said, “Daddy was so good to us. He was a pragmatic person. Everything we have today could be attributed to him.”

Meanwhile, more notable Nigerians have continued to condole with the family of the Ogbemudias over the death of their patriarch, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia.

Those, who visited the family, on Saturday, included former Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; his deputy, Honourable Pius Odubu; deputy governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu; a retired judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Samson Uwaifo; and deputy speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Elizabeth Ativie.

According to Oshiomhole, the deceased Ogbemudia, placed himself in the nation’s history long before his death with his deeds, pointing out that “Dr Ogbemudia immortalised himself.”

In the same vein, former Minister of Works, Michael Onolememen, condoled with the family.

In a statement signed by him, he said the people of Edo and Delta states owed the late Ogbemudia a debt of gratitude for the pioneering leadership he provided in nurturing the foundations that catalysed the attainment of socio-economic and political relevance in national and international affairs of the then Bendel State.

According to him, Dr Ogbemudia stood tall like an Iroko tree among his peers and distinguished himself as a transformational military governor and accomplished many firsts in the process.

“Although, Dr Ogbemudia is no longer with us, his legacies live on. May God grant his family, the state government and indeed the entire people of Nigeria the fortitude to bear the loss, recieve his sould and let perpetual light shine on him”, he said.