SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY
Wednesday,August 17, 2011, was a sad day for the people of Idumebo community, Irrua, Esan Central LGA of Edo state. That was the day the former Vice President, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, who founded the local government died after a protracted illness, in Lagos.

The entire community was thrown into mourning when the news broke in the serene community. Irrua is one of the strategic communities in Esanland and actually caught the attention of Nigerians when their son, late Aikhomu became the military vice president under the administration of President Ibrahim Babangida between 1991-1993. He was born in a polygamous home and grew up with his parents in the village who were farmers. When Saturday Vanguard toured his community last Thursday, it was obvious that the deceased Admiral touched the lives of his people as a naval officer. He was indeed one of the elites who were devoted to his own people. It would be recalled that he contributed immensely to the creation of Edo state. That is one feat that he would always be remembered for in the state.

As at then, the present Edo state was comprised of old Bendel North and South senatorial districts. When he was in power, he constituted the two senatorial districts to the present state called Edo. Then, the old Bendel North became two senatorial districts. The present Edo Central and Edo North districts. That was a huge advantage to the people of the state and his Esan people in particular. Saturday Vanguard learnt that he contributed immensely to the creation of more Local Government Areas in Esan land.

* Late Aikhomu

It was learnt that through him, the present Edo South (Binis) would have had more Local Governments but the Binis fought against it in order not to destroy the rich traditional culture of the people if eventually many councils are created out of it. As a kingdom, they would not want it to be shared in pieces. Apart from that, the deceased Admiral was said to have brought the present Otibor Okhai Specialist Hospital in Irrua. And Saturday Vanguard Observed that apart from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, that hospital has been helpful, not only to the people of Edo state but to the entire South South region due to the equipment.

Apart from the infrastructures he brought to his people , he facilitated the appointment of very many Esan military governors . Some of them include Oyakhire, Navy Commander Abulu, military administration of Anambra State, Fidelis Oyakhilome, Air Vice Marshal Agbonene, former military Governor of Cross Rivers state. Gen. Godwin Abbe former military administration of Lagos state and Admiral Mike Akhigbe. He was instrumental to these appointments Saturday Vanguard learnt. He was also instrumental to the appointment of Prof.Emovon as Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia as Chairman National Sports Commission and Railway Commission and AVM Okpere as Minister of Aviation. Saturday Vanguard further learnt that in order to further empower his people, he tactically supported Chief Tom Ikimi to become the National Chairman of the National Republican Convention (NRC).

As regards physical developments, Saturday Vanguard gathered that he was instrumental in the handling of Queen Ede erosion project in Benin, Ibore erosion project in Irrua, Uromi Urban erosion project, Auchi erosion project. It was said that he used the Benin Owena River Basin Authority as the executing agency. One of the major things he will also be remembered for was that he was instrumental to the return of Dr Samuel Ogbemudia’s property and return of his rank as Brigadier General after the military administration of Gen Olusegun Obasanjo and Gen Murtala Muhammed dethroned him. It would be recalled that the Murtala administration which overthrew the Gen. Yakubu Gowon military junta had dismissed Gen. Ogbemudia from the Army and seized his property. However, when the IBB and Aikhomu administration took over, they restored his rank and properties.

And politically, the deceased Admiral started partisan politics. He actually commenced partisan in 1995 as the leader of the then Fourth Dimension which was like a social organization that metamorphosised into UNPP. The group merged with the then APP to become ANPP. Former Governor Attahiru Bafara led the APP into the ANPP while Aikhomu led UNPP into the merger. In ANPP, Admiral became Chairman Board of Trustees of the ANPP and it was on that platform that Gen Muhammadu Buhari ran for the Presidential election with late Chuba Okadigbo as his Vice. It was under his leadership that the then Chief whip of the senate, Senator Rowland Owie ran as Governor in his native Edo state under ANPP. It was generally believed that the ANPP won the election in the state then but it was manipulated by the almighty PDP. It was after the 2003 elections, sometime in 2004, that the late Admiral joined the PDP after the ANPP lost grip both in the state and nation as a whole. It was learnt that he would have played a major role in the present administration but for his poor health which kept him outside the country for a long time.

However , Admiral’s cousin and very close confidant Chief Isaac Ekeoba, spoke to Saturday Vanguard at Idumebo. “The late Admiral was my cousin, but we were more like friends than blood relations because we were very close. We went to school together. After primary school, he went to Yaba Technical College and I went to St Patricks Asaba. After our secondary school, he went to the Navy and I went to London. He later came to London to join me. We got back home and we continued our lives. He was a great man. Very kind, very generous and a loving family man. He helped bring up his close relations. When he took ill a couple of years ago, we had hoped he would survive but unfortunately he left us. We will miss Admiral, I will particularly miss him because in this village we are always together, every villager knows. When I was called by some of my friends in Lagos about the incident I shouted. But the reality is what we all are facing now. We only pray that the good Lord will accept his soul. Amen.

He added: “I spoke to him four days ago and we spoke. He just came back from his check up and he told me he was tired. I tried to encourage him, I did not know how serious he was. But I told him to be strong, the he should not give up as a soldier. He gave me his new number and I told him that I was going to come and visit him in Lagos. Only to be told by some one last night that Admiral is gone”. Elder brother of the deceased, Sir Alfred Aikhomu disclosed that the family members would meet soon to announce a date for the burial.