LEST WE FORGET... ................................................................................ Chief Humphrey Omo Osagie. (Hero of Midwest) .............,................................................................... He was the clear leader of the people of Midwest Region, later Bendel State, now Edo and Delta states (Apart from the Oba of Benin who offered Royal Guidance and Policy Direction) in those dark days when Awolowo left Midwest area of Western Region perpetually underdeveloped and humiliated in many ways even though the Western Region survived on exploiting the resources of Midwest to develop the Yorubaland. Midwest was the cash cow, the secret of development, of Awolowos Western Region. The Awo Free Education, Health & Warfare programmes and others were because of Midwest Oil and Cash crops. Petroleum and Palm oil, Cocoa and Rubber. The people of the Midwestern area of the Western Region were fedup of the exploitation and humiliation, thus a certain strong leader emerged among them. A man of sacrifice and vision. In an unprecedented manner, this man, following the steps of Oba Eweka II and Oba Akenzua II, made spirited efforts to offer leadership and successfully united the hitherto scattered people. That man raised and mentored many lieutenants, including Chief Festus Okotiebor (Elaba of Uselu) and Senator Darlton Asemota (who eventually moved the deciding Motion - God bless his memory) and that man successfully coordinated the agitation for the creation of Midwest Region in 1963 ay great risks to their lives because the Pharaohs in the Western Region refused to Let Our People Go because they wanted to continue the economic and sociopolitical exploitation cum neocolonization of our people. That man was so influential that his Plate Number was issued as B - 2 (meaning Bendel 2). Ostensibly, the governor or the Oba was B - 1. That is how B2 became that mans nickname. That man being discussed in this post is no other than Chief Humphrey Omo-Osagie, Iyase of Benin. The natural reward for the dogged and rugged freedom fighter was generally accepted to be that he was be made the Premier of the region to be created. This was a consensus. But something happened... The most impressive thing about B2 is his love for his Edo over his Ego. For Omo-Osagie so loved Edo that he gave up his begotten position of Premier because the offer came with a clause - a price to pay: Benin Region cannot have both positions; they must choose between having the Premier or Regional Capital. This was a big temptation. Many yeye politicians today would easily betray their people as long as it favours them and cajole themselves that I am not tribal. But Omo-Osagie was not a PayAsYouGo leader. He made personal sacrifice so that Benin can retain Capital Status. No doubt the fact that Benin was and is capital accounts for over 70% of the modern developments. B2 was a patriot, a type of leader that todays Benin people desperately needs to genuinely lead and direct their otherwise worthy geopolitical cause of deserved but denied greater opportunity. This post is inspired by B2s unsung sacrifice for the greater good. The objectives of this post, among others, is to challenge those who the benevolent spirits have helped to be in leadership position over communities, tribes, states, regions, and the the federation to learn the virtues of vision and sacrifice encapsulated by the life and times of B2. Public leadership is not about self aggrandizement but vision, mission, commission and above all - sacrifice. Chief Omo-Osagie, burying his ambition for the sake of the vision of a greater Benin, remarkably voted for Benin City to become the Regional Capital while the Delta area was allowed to produce the Premier. Dont forget that the Delta area was and still is more populated and they had the numerical strength to have voted for Asaba as Capital. Omo-Osagie sacrificial tactical maneuver was what closed that crisis chapter. That was how Benin City emerged as the Regional Capital and Chief Dennis Osadebey from Delta area became the first Premier. Today we have immortalized Denis Osadebey by naming our Government House after him. Unfortunately, we have forgotten Chief Omo-Osagie who made the sacrifice and led the fight at great risk to his life and political career. This however should be corrected, hence this post. I, Saintmoses Eromosele, Citizen of Edo State from Ewu and Benin City, hereby Move a Public Interest Motion for the Edo State Government to find a way to Immortalize Chief Humphrey Omo-Osagie as soon as possible. Renaming the Edo State Civil Service Secretariat at Sapela Road from Palm House (palm don finish na) to Chief Humphrey Omo-Osagie Complex like we rightly did with House of Assembly as Chief Enahoro Complex, or naming any other important state facility after that icon is a way to start to remember and immortalize our heroes past so that present and future generations of leaders would be motivated to do more. We must teach our children that it pays to make sacrifice for the public good over personal ego or self aggrandizement. Immortalizing B2 as well as others like Senator Asemota, Dr. Itoto, Pa Imoudu, Jackson Edokpa, among others, is a veritable way to teach our children as well as our todays and future generation of leaders the virtues of patriotism and genuine leadership. I SO MOVE HOW MANY SECONDMENTS DO I HAVE FOR THIS MOTION? IF YOU SUPPORT TYPE YES, IF YOU OPPOSE TYPE NO.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 18:08:51 +0000
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