By Omoniyi Salaudeen

This past week, Nigeria recorded the loss of two highly revered Army Generals in one quick succession, precisely less than 48 hours apart. Adebayo had passed on Thursday, March 8, a day to his 89th birthday anniversary at his GRA residence in Ikeja after a brief illness. Ogbemudia in his own case breathed his last a day after (Friday), following a protracted ill-health.

Viewed in terms of their contributions to nation building, they had undoubtedly left their indelible footprints on the sand of time before they completed their sojourn on this planet earth in a blaze of glory. Indeed, they came, they saw and they conquered.

One striking thing about the history of the two late Generals is the commonality of their destinies. Apart from the fact that they had both risen to the pinnacle of their profession before their exit from the army, they were both successful administrators in their respective states. While Adebayo held sway as military governor of the defunct Western State, Ogbemudia presided over the affairs of the Mid-Western State, later renamed Bendel State, part of which in turn became Edo State in similar capacity.

Adebayo became the governor of Western State after the Nigerian Civil War. History has it that he vehemently voiced out his opposition against the use of force on the Biafra secessionists, saying: “I need not tell you what horror, what devastation and what extreme human suffering will attend the use of force. When it is all over and the smoke and dust have lifted, and the dead are buried, we shall find, as other people have found, that it has all been futile, entirely futile, in solving the problems we set out to solve.” 

At the onset of war, Adebayo, ordered all bridges into the West be demolished to prevent the Biafran rebels from reaching Lagos the capital of Nigeria via his state. The rebels went as far as Ore in present-day Ondo State about 100 kilometres (62 mi) from Lagos. Following the end of the civil war, Adebayo was subsequently appointed by the then head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, as the chairman of the committee on the reconciliation and integration of the Ibos (Biafrans) back into the Nigerian fold.

Adebayo was the governor during the infamous farmers’ “Agbekoya” revolt over taxation which was eventually resolved peacefully and harmoniously. He retired from the Nigeria Army as a Major General in 1975. He was also Chief of Staff of the Nigerian Army and was Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

Up till the time of his death, Ogbemudia remained one of the most revered political leaders in Edo State.

His regime as military administrator is still being referred to as the glorious era of the state.  He was appointed military administrator of the defunct Mid-Western state in September, 1967 following the liberation of the state from the secessionist forces.

Among other things, he built the Ogbe sports stadium, now named the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium as well as three-story National Museum in Benin City. Other projects he had to his credit included the Agbede Mechanized Farm, Rural Electrification Board, Bendel Steel Structures, Bendel Pharmaceuticals, Bendel Boatyard, the University of Benin and the Bendel Line to mention but a few.

Ogbemudia was born in Benin City. As a youth, he lived with his elder cousin, Mr. FS Uwaifo, a Benin-based businessman. He attended Benin Baptist School (1941–1945), and then the government school, Victoria, in the Cameroons (1945–1947). His secondary education was at the Western Boy’s High School, Benin City (1947–1949). He joined the Nigeria army in 1957, training at Teshie, Ghana and at Netheravon and Salisbury Plain in England (1957). He later attended the officer cadet school at Aldershot, England in 1960, and was 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, and served in Tanzania in 1964. He was appointed as an instructor to the Nigerian Military School, Zaria in 1964.

At the advent of the present democratic dispensation, Ogbemudia joined politics as one of the founders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a member of the party’s Board of Trustees.


Gen. Adebayo’s last moments, by son

By Charles Adegbite

the death of Major Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo last Wednesday came like that of a warrior who had finished a battle and was set to go home, according to his eldest son and former governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo.

Otunba Adebayo spoke to Sunday Sun yesterday about the last moments of the late military governor of the defunct Western Region.
According to him, when the late President of the Yoruba Council of Elder woke up that morning, he went to the bathroom, shaved and had his bath.

It was at the point of dressing up that his breathing began to increase.  “He spent his last moment just the way he lived his life. He died in a way that showed that he just didn’t disturb anybody. He was well when he woke up that morning. It was when he was dressing up that his breathing became a labour. At that time, they laid him on the bed. When the breathing became worst, he was taken to the hospital. But by the time they got to hospital he had died. It was a peaceful transition. Like I said, just as he lived his life.” he said.

The former governor said, “just as he spent his entire life helping other people, as many people kept on coming to him for one assistance or the other. He was a very selfless person. Everything he had he used to help others. And that is one of the legacies he left behind for us.”

Speaking further on his legacies and achievements, he said his late father opened up Ekiti State and as governor of the Western Region, he did a lot.

“Many of the towns in Ekiti did not have water and electricity. And he did a lot to ensure that all those things were made available to the people.
At the time of agitation for creation of Ekiti State, he was one of the leading voices that made it possible. And he did everything to make sure that he brought all Yoruba people together.  As the President of the Yoruba Council of Elders also, he tried a lot. And he didn’t compromise the unity of Nigeria.

On the lessons he taught him and his other children, humility, selfless service and contentment were paramount, apart from the fear of God, he said.


Ogbemudia: Neighbours, others mourn

From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin

The nation and Edo State are at the moment in great mourning over the death of former governor of old Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Osagbovo Ogbemudia. Residents of his immediate community, Iheya Street, Benin City, and neighbouring streets were still short of words to describe the passing away of Ogbemudia whom they called “their light that shines in the darkness,” when Sunday Sun visited.  To them, his death has brought pain and anguish.

Following his death, commercial activities in the area were at their lowest ebbs last Friday, as many remained indoors. To some residents of Iheya, he was their “road” because through his influence, roads which were long abandoned by successive governments in the state were reconstructed; while others, described him as their “light” as the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) hardly interrupted power supply whenever he was around. The residents have, therefore, joined other Nigerians to mourn the late General, who came, saw and conquered in all ramifications.

  One of them, Pastor Joshua Effiong, zonal accountant with the National Commission for Mass Literacy, said the late Ogbemudia gave him the permission to use the sobriquet “light” in addressing him.

  “I work with the National Commission for Mass Literacy. Our organisation moved into Edo State in 2004. Before that time, this environment was bushy. When we came in, he assisted us in putting this place in order. In fact, he gave us a direct line and we were using his own light for quite a while.

  “He was a good neighbour. Most times, we go there to fetch water when we have problem in our compound. During his birthday, he gave everybody access to his compound. So, Ogbemudia was a nice man.

  “Really, for the few days he was not around, there was darkness because the light from his compound always reflected to this area. We miss him a lot. He was a cool headed man; a man that accommodated people; a man that accepted all people whether you are Edo or not,” he said.

Also Comrade Andrew Atekha Ehigiamusoe, state secretary, Spray Painters Association, Edo State, whose mechanic workshop is adjacent to Ogbemudia’s house, said he was a good man and that he led a good life. 

  “The man was a very good man. In this state, he did many things that helped the state to develop. You can see everybody mourning. We are in a state of sober reflection. We are crying over his demise. He was a good man to us. I pray God to forgive him whatever sins he might have committed and grant him eternal rest.

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

  Mr. Ehis Aigberemolen, a mechanic, said Ogbemudia was a great man both in Edo and Delta states, adding that the immediate past governor, Adams Oshiomhole, only built on the good things he had done for the state.

  “The man was a good man who respected the landlords. He used to give clothes, cows and other items to residents of the street. Whenever Ogbemudia was around, BEDC did not interrupt power supply. What I want the Edo State government to do is to give him a befitting burial.

  “I have spent over 24 years in this quarter undisturbed. But some big men would have asked us to relocate our mechanic workshop from this area. But since I came, he never harassed us. Instead, whenever he was celebrating his birthday, he would invite us to join him in the celebration and gifts were usually given to us,” he said.

  Rev. Mrs. Tina Solomon said the late Ogbemudia was like a father to everybody in the community. “He was there for everyone of us both in the street and especially in this very family. The man was a philanthropist.   Anybody that had an encounter with this man will know that he was a God sent especially to the family of late Pastor Tina Solomon and my grand mother, the late Madam Modupe Poopola.

  “His exit is a painful one but in all, we give glory to God because he said in any condition we should give thanks to him. So, we have no right to question God because we know that he lived a successful life and a life worthy of emulation.

  “ I will miss his kindness, generosity and his love for mankind. He did not discriminate; we will live to remember him always”, she said in pains.