By Funmi Komolafe

In less than 60days, the eight years of  Adams Eric Aliyu Oshiomhole  as governor of Edo State will   come to an end.   Oshiomhole, a career trade unionist, is the first union leader in Nigeria to hold an executive office.

Before he became governor, Oshiomhole made his mark in the labour movement. Not only did he leave indelible foot prints in the textile union, he did  same in the central labour organization, Nigeria Labour Congress.     He also   made signification contributions to the international labour movement through the International Labour Organisation  and  the International Confederation of Trade Unions to mention just a few.

The tenure of Oshiomhole as governor of Edo  changed the face of the state. Benin, the  state capital, moved from the ancient city of Benin to truly become Benin City.     I recall that   a friend,   Ms. Omokharo, who lives in Switzerland, came home on a visit and called saying, “ Ah, I can’t believe I am in Benin. Oshiomhole has changed Benin”.   This change did not come without a cost;  some things had to give way including   a part of the palace of the revered Oba of Benin but the monarch gave his consent.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole

Having covered Oshiomhole for about 30 years, I can say that he is a man whose goal is to improve the living standards of the majority of the     people.     That is why he often says, a child cannot be born without labour   pains.   True , some people lost   parts of their property to the construction of roads, but today, who benefits? Those who lost part of their property and those who have never acquired property are all beneficiaries.

Prudence-     It is to   the credit of Oshiomhole and his team, including his able deputy, Dr.   Pius Odubu, and the entire cabinet that Edo has been paying workers salaries regularly and even   implemented an increase in the wages of workers, yet Edo isn’t one of the very buoyant oil producing states.   States that earn almost twice as Edo  are   owing salaries.

Oshimhole’s   prudence in the management of finances did not begin in Edo.   He was one of the labour leaders who had a vision that trade unions must invest and manage workers check-off prudently.   As General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers ( NUGTW), the union invested in property in Lagos , Kaduna   and Asaba, among others.

Not only that,   even as a union leader, he   helped to boost the internally generated revenue of Edo by hosting several seminars in that state.   This was at a  time he never knew he would become the governor in that state.

His resolve to tax   the rich for the benefit of the greater number of Edo citizens   made some priviledged citizens campaign against him.   Some even went as far as using the opportunity of a   Sunday column to rubbish Oshiomhole   and his party but he remained adamant.   To him, the rich must pay   the right   tax   in order to generate revenue which the state could use to improve the lives of the people.      Today, the electorate has vindicated him.

As President, he insisted that NLC must fund itself even if it meant unions paying more. That, to him, is the only way the independence of the unions will not be compromised. Till date, the NLC upholds that policy.

Education -As Oshiomhole’s tenure winds down,   his upgrading of the standard of education will definitely change the lives of many children of the poor in Edo. He insisted that public schools must   be of good quality. To him, if these children have access to quality education, they would in future change the status of their families.

When he asked teachers to sit for assessment examinations in the state, his critics condemned him but typical Adams  remained   focused on his goal.

Unknown to many, his belief in making education a priority did not start   with his tenure as governor.     He started with the textile  workers union where he introduced the annual education seminar, a forum for educating blue collar workers on their rights and responsibilities at work.   Till date, the union holds   the seminar.   Indeed, the last one was held in Benin, Edo state capital, a few   weeks ago.

Connection with the poor–      Before he became governor, Oshiomhole, to some people, was a   ‘trouble maker’ who had a habit of making the government uncomfortable.   To those who understand him, however, he wasn’t leading strikes and protests against  oil sector  deregulation policy because he couldn’t afford to buy petroleum products at whatever price, but because he believed that life   must not be made unbearable for the masses.     This much the people   appreciated by electing him governor and re-electing him for a second term.

Indeed, the victory of the All Progressives Congress’s Godwin Obaseki and Phillip Shuaibu as governor and deputy governor, elect of Edo  respectively   can be seen as a “ thank you” vote for Oshiomhole.   It is the demonstration of the confidence and trust of the people for Oshiomhole.   They have confidence that Obaseki and Phillip Shuaibu will   build  on the legacy of Oshiomhole.

His demonstration of love for the down trodden   predates his tenure as governor.

As NLC President, I recall that he came to Lagos and we had cause to be in Victoria Island. We stopped to buy petrol at  a filling station and he saw a beggar and handed him a N500 note ( the highest denomination at that time). Someone in the car protested that it was too much. Oshiomhole replied. “ This man needs it more than you”.

His wife, Lara, was right when she described him   as a man with a kind heart in one of the interviews she granted some newspapers recently.

I also witnessed an incident that some students paid him a visit at the NLC headquarters in Abuja and he wanted to give them some money as they were about to return to their station.   He wrote an amount on the paper for the accountant but the officer who received the paper said the amount was too much.

Oshiomhole replied, “ Give it   them. I know how much my own children who are also in school take from me”.   Now, these are students whose parents were unknown to him.

Oshiomhole   as a worker never forget  his humble background. Hence it was not surprising that he used his opportunity as governor to host   blue collar workers at the Government House, an incident that would remain memorable in the lives of those people many of whom would never have come close to a governor.

Gender sensitivity–   Another legacy of  Oshiomhole is his respect for gender.   An indigene of Edo said she was surprised to see women drive buses in the  state   during Oshiomhole’s tenure.   Even as a labour leader, he promoted   women and believed in equal opportunities   for     men and women.

He often said, “ My sons are not necessarily more brilliant than my daughters”.      He believes   everyone must be given the opportunity to fully express   his or her   God-given talents.

No doubt, Adams Oshiomhole isn’t a saint and could not have scored 100% as governor. He had his limitations and shortcomings as a human being.     However, Adams is one person who does not find it difficult to apologise or   retrace his step  if convinced that he has taken a wrong position.

When he lost his temper and rebuked the widow who sold by the roadside, I said to myself, now Adams has forgotten that he once told President Obasanjo that, as a public officer, he ( Obasanjo)   lost the right to be angry . He was however quick to make it up for the widow by employing her and giving her cash to start a business.   Unknown to all of us, there was a divine   background to that incident.   As the widow’s son later revealed , he had a dream that his mother had an encounter with the governor and   the boy was afraid.   It turned out that Oshiomhole’s   temporary anger was the step that God wanted to use to elevate the widow.

Personal loss–     The eight years tenure did not come without some irreparable loss to Oshiomhole and his family.

The death of his wife of over 25 years, Clara, was a big blow to the family.

He also lost quite a number of aides; including journalist, Chris Nwachukwu, whose wife had a son after about five years of waiting.   Chris had sent out invitation for his friends to be at the child’s dedication but he didn’t live to see that day.   He died in an auto crash along with other aides of the Comrade Governor.

Are we to forget the murder of   his personal assistant, Olaitan Oyerinde, who he brought along from the NLC.     May their souls rest in peace.

These are incidents that Oshiomhole and his family will never forget.

The consolation though is that Adams came, made   his mark and made the difference in Edo.

I recall my last meeting with Clara in the sitting room of their Government House residence.   She said: “ Even if I die, Adams must change Edo State”.

She also said: “   You know Anenih is my brother , we are both   Esan, but we must change Edo to improve the lives of our people”.

If the dead   could assess the   living,     Clara   would   be proud of the achievements of Adams.   Not only Clara but also the likes of Michael Imoudu, Hudson Momodu, Omoruyi Ero (all trade unionists   and indigenes of Edo, of blessed memory) will say bravo to their Comrade for making the state refreshingly different ( apologies to Vanguard).

Election–   The election is over. Obaseki/ Shuaibu     are now governor and deputy governor- elect respectively.   The people of Edo have resolved to move forward and not backward.   They have, with their votes, shown appreciation to the Comrade Governor and his team.

The challenge is for Obaseki and his deputy, Shuaibu, a former student leader and activist, to work harder than Oshiomhole.

Improvement   in the lives of the people of Edo must be the priority of Obaseki’s administration.

Well done. Bravo. Adams Aliyu Eric Oshiomhole , congratulations on your tenure as  governor of Edo.

As a former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon said when he   came to commission a network of roads constructed by Oshiomhole’s administration  in Benin,   “ Nigeria needs you at a higher level”.

Adams, your life is an inspiration to others.   God moved you from a factory worker who answered  sir to employers to become governor to whom others answer  sir. It can only be the Lord’s doing.

May the Lord promote you, give you good health and long life that you may serve humanity   better.

This tribute to Oshiomhole would be incomplete without a word of commendation for the Edo Government House press team led by his chief press secretary, Peter Okhiria, who came from Vanguard.

Well done !   Adams Oshiomhole, The lion of the labour movement.

The movement is proud of your achievements.

…. Funmi Komolafe, is a former Labour Editor of Vanguard .