By Simon Ebegbulem

THE  All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, led by the state leader and immediate past governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; Governor Godwin Obaseki, yesterday, paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, just as the state government disclosed plans to liase with the family and Delta  State government to commence plans for his burial.

A member of the family, Gentleman Amegor, had  disclosed to the visitors that the  former governor of the defunct Midwest had requested that he would not want to be kept at the mortuary for too long, adding therefore that the family intended  to fulfill his wish.

The Deputy Governor of  Edo, Comrade Philip Shaibu, represented  Obaseki  during the visit.  Other APC leaders in the team include the  immediate past deputy governor of the state, Dr Pius Odubu; state Secretary of the APC,  Chief Osaro Idah;  Deputy Speaker of the state Assembly, Elizabeth Ativie; Patrick Obahiagbon;  Clem Agba and  some  commissioners under Oshiomhole’s administration.

Shaibu, who spoke  on the preparedness of the state government to give  Ogbemudia a state burial, said, “My governor, Obaseki, said we are going to give our father Ogbemudia a state burial.”

Dr Ogbemudia

Addressing the family, Oshiomhole, who said he was particularly pained over the death of Ogbemudia, said ,  “I  have enjoyed a long history of relationship with our leader. It is not flattering when i say to people that God sent Ogbemudia to come and lay foundation for us.

Meanwhile, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described  Ogbemudia  as a  disciplined military officer.

He praised Ogbemudia’s record of infrastructural development as governor of old Mid-Western Region, saying it was still being appreciated and talked about till today.

In another tribute, a former Minister of Works, Arc Michael Onolememen, said Ogbemudia “stood tall like an iroko tree among his peers, and distinguished himself as a transformational Military Governor of the then Mid-Western State and later Governor of Bendel State, and accomplished many ‘firsts’ in the process.”

Ogbemudia’s monumental achievements in theeducational, agricultural, sports and industrial development of the entire then Mid-Western State(Bendel State), the former minister said, attest to his unparalleled visionary and transformational leadership at the time. “Little wonder, Bendel State was the envy of all and remains a vivid reference point in infrastructural and socio-economic development in the comity of states in the country”.