Professor of Medical Law and Ethics, University of Abuja  Professor Uwakwe Abugu has promised to work with the management  of the institution in ensuring that her Law Faculty becomes the best in Nigeria 

Speaking shortly after he emerged the new Dean of the Faculty of Law  in a keenly contested election, Professor Abugu said he was prepared to build on the existing infrastructures in the institution and make the faculty the “first choice”.

Abugu, the Head of the Department of Private and Property Law, Professor Uwakwe Abugu, succeeded  Prof. Abdurasheed Musa Yusuf, a Prof. of Islamic Law. 

He  commended Prof. Yusuf, immediate past Dean for his remarkable achievements and contributions to the Faculty. He also praised Prof. Muktar, for his significant impact on various aspects of the faculty while serving as Dean.

The new Dean was  the Vice Chancellor of Ave Maria University, Piyanko, Nasarawa State while Muktar, was a former Dean of the Faculty and one time Deputy-Vice Chancellor, (Academics) of UNIABUJA.

“While I’m commending my predecessors in office for their outstanding contributions to the development and positioning of the faculty, I promise to build on their achievements and take it further. One of my cardinal plans is to work with the management of the University to improve on infrastructural development as well as making sure that UNIABUJA Law Faculty becomes the Faculty of first choice,” he stated.

Abugu, a Director of Sultan Maccido Institute for Peace Leadership and Development Studies, University of Abuja, obtained his first degree in Law from University of Calabar in 1994. 

He came out in Second Class (Honours) Upper Division and won several prizes and awards for brilliant academic performance and the best graduating student in seven courses, including Land Law. On graduation at the Nigerian Law School, where he won two awards for the Best Graduating Student in Civil Procedure and Criminal Procedure, Abugu was invited alongside five other best graduating students in the Bar Final Examination to compete for the Danley Alexander Scholarship. 

After obtaining his Master of Laws  (L.LM) Degree from the Obafemin Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Abugu joined the academic staff of the University of Ilorin as an Assistant Lecturer. 

Prof. Abugu once served as Special Assistant to Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. 

Among other professional offices and recognitions, the new Dean is; Director General, Institute of Medical and Health Law(IMHL), President, Medical Law Professionals Association of Nigeria (MELPAN) and President, Lifeline Centre for Medical and Health Rights Advocacy. He is also a Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration; and Associate, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers.

Prof. Abugu, who is the author of  Land Use and Reform in Nigeria: Law and Practice(2012), has published widely in both local and international journals. 

He is happily married to his Learned Friend, Barr. Nkechi Uwakwe-Abugu and they are blessed with two children, Nmachinemelum and Jidechukwu.

[DailyIndependent]

Adams Oshiomhole, a Nigerian senator and former governor of Edo State, should be in a jubilant mood after Saturday’s governorship election in Edo.

Why? Mr Oshiomhole’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), won the Edo election.

Political analysts may describe this election outcome as a political revenge against his successor and estranged ally, Governor Godwin Obaseki.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), scored 291 667 votes to defeat his main rival and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asue Ighodalo, who scored 247 274.

A former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) came third with 22,763 votes.

Mr Okpebholo, backed by Mr Oshiomhole, won in 11 local government areas, while Mr Ighodalo, with the backing of Governor Obaseki, won in seven.

Although Messrs Oshiomhole and Obaseki’s names were not on the ballots, behind the scenes, political observers believe the election was a supremacy battle between the governor and his erstwhile “political father,” Mr Oshiomhole.

By getting the APC to take back Edo, Mr Oshiomhole, a former national chairperson of the APC once trounced by Mr Obaseki, has now redeemed his political image.

Ally turned rival

Mr Oshiomhole, a former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, first contested for the governorship election of Edo in 2007 under the platform of the defunct Action Congress.

INEC declared the PDP candidate, Oserheimen Osunbor, the winner, but Mr Oshiomhole challenged the declaration and got the Election Petition Tribunal to nullify Mr Osunbor’s victory. The Court of Appeal later upheld the verdict.

Mr Oshiomhole was subsequently sworn in as governor in 2008, a development that pushed the state into an off-cycle election. He was reelected in 2012 for a second term with a landslide victory.

After completing his second term in 2016, Mr Oshiomhole ‘helped’ Mr Obaseki, whom he had earlier appointed as chairperson of the Edo State economic team, succeed him as governor. He nicknamed Mr Obaseki the “brain of creativity” behind his administration’s success.

Mr Ighodalo, the PDP candidate, was a member of the economic team.

Mr Obaseki became the governor, and afterwards, Mr Oshiomhole emerged as the national chairperson of the ruling APC.

In the course of Mr Obaseki’s first term as governor, an initial latent rift with his “god-father” manifested and grew worse until the relationship collapsed completely.

Amidst the rifts, Mr Obaseki inaugurated nine out of the 24 members-elect of the Edo House of Assembly, apparently to prevent Mr Oshiomhole’s loyalists from taking control of the assembly. The APC national leadership rejected the inauguration, which was done at night.

Less than a month later, on 4 July 2019, Mr Obaseki sacked eight commissioners from his cabinet over their alleged alliance with Mr Oshiomhole.

Four months later, Mr Oshiomhole was suspended by the APC in Edo State following a vote of no confidence against him by party chairpersons from 18 local government chapters in the state, a move allegedly instigated by Mr Obaseki.

In December 2019, the Mr Obaseki-backed Edo assembly sacked 12 out of the 15 members-elect who were initially excluded from its inauguration in June.

Two days after Christmas in 2019, Mr Obaseki handed Mr Oshiomhole a shocker. He told reporters that Mr Oshiomhole remained suspended as the APC national chairperson but that he might consider taking him back if “he comes back remorseful and apologetic.”

The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, in January 2020 issued what appeared like a travel ban against Mr Oshiomhole. He said Mr Oshiomhole would not enter Edo without the permission of Mr Obaseki.

Two months later, a High Court in Abuja ordered Mr Oshiomhole’s suspension, relying on the initial suspension issued by the party in Edo State on the APC national chairperson.

Upon Mr Oshiomhole’s appeal, the appellate court in Abuja adjourned the suspension suit indefinitely, halting the process and giving Mr Oshiomhole time to re-strategise.

Amidst their raging feud, Mr Obaseki said Mr Oshiomhole was disrupting the party’s decision-making process in Edo State on 8 June 2020. Four days later, Governor Obaseki was disqualified from the APC governorship primary in Edo State over alleged inconsistencies in his academic credentials, the same credentials the party scrutinised and cleared him to contest for governorship in 2016.

The appellate court on 16 June 2020 affirmed Mr Oshiomhole’s suspension as APC national chairperson and dismissed his appeal for lacking merit. The same day, Mr Obaseki resigned from the APC after a meeting with then-President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja. Hours later, the Edo deputy governor, Mr Shaibu, also resigned.

Amidst intense lobbying and permutations, Governor Obaseki and his deputy joined the PDP on 19 June 2020, where he contested for a second term and defeated Mr Oshiomhole’s APC.

Mr Oshiomhole’s suspension was lifted on 20 June 2020, a day after Mr Obaseki left the party for PDP.

Oshiomhole’s triumph

Mr Obaseki’s victory in 2020 against Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the APC candidate, was a severe political blow to Mr Oshiomhole.

The 2020 governorship election was the second consecutive time Mr Obaseki defeated Mr Ize-Iyamu. In 2016, Mr Ize-Iyamu was the PDP candidate who lost to Mr Obaseki of the APC then, but the two switched political parties after Mr Obaseki fell out with Mr Oshiomhole.

In 2020, Mr Obaseki polled 307,955 votes to defeat Mr Ize-Iyamu, who scored 223, 619 votes.

Governor Obaseki won in 13 local government areas, including Ovia West, Orhionmwon, Esan West, Ovia North, Oredo (with over 100 per cent of what APC scored), Esan North East, Esan Central, Igueben, Ikpoba Okha, Uhunmwonde, Egor, Owan West and Esan South East while Mr Oshiomhole-backed APC candidate, Mr Ize-Iyamu won in five including Etsako West, Owan East, Akoko Edo, Etsako East and Etsako Central.

Four years later, Mr Obaseki hand-picked a lawyer and banker, Mr Ighodalo, as his preferred successor but was roundly defeated by the APC.

However, incidents of violence, technical glitches, vote-buying, and alterations of results prompted the PDP to reject the election result.

Did Ighodalo carry Obaseki’s baggage?

Besides Mr Obaseki’s fight with Mr Oshiomhole, analysts felt that the PDP candidate, Mr Ighodalo, went into Saturday’s election carrying a lot of the governor’s baggage, including Mr Obaseki’s refusal to inaugurate the 14 members-elect of the Edo assembly from 2019 to 2023 and the governor’s ill-treatment of the deputy governor, Mr Shaibu, because of his (Shaibu’s) governorship ambition.

It also appears that Mr Obaseki did not particularly have a good relationship with the Edo traditional rulers.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled October 31 to give its verdict regarding a lawsuit aimed at removing Chiedu Ebie from his position as Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) due to allegations of improper appointment.

Naija News reports that Justice Joyce Abdulmalik fixed the judgement day today during the court session following the submission of written addresses by the parties involved, which served as their arguments for and against the originating summons.

It is worth noting that certain communities from the Niger Delta have initiated legal action against President Bola Tinubu, claiming that he breached the NDDC Act by appointing Ebie to the position.

The plaintiffs, representing communities from Bayelsa and Delta States, contended in court that Ebie is unqualified for the role of Board Chairman, as he does not hail from “the oil-producing area with the highest quantum of oil production.”

The individuals who filed the lawsuit include Chief Goodnews Gereghewei, Chief Eddy Brayei, and Mr. Jonah Engineyouwei, acting on behalf of themselves and the communities of Bisangbene, Agge, and Amatu1 in the Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The respondents in the case include President Tinubu, the Senate President, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the NDDC, and Ebie, listed as the 1st to 5th respondents, respectively.

Additionally, Jerry Mulade-Aroh, representing Gbaramatu Kingdom, Mr. Jolomi Itsekure, representing Itsekiri oil and gas-producing communities, and Friday Ugedi, representing Egbema Kingdom, all from Delta, have sought to be included as plaintiffs in the case.

During the proceedings on Tuesday, the plaintiffs, through their attorney Mr. Egberipou Sotonye Barakemi, requested the court to reject the preliminary objection raised by President Tinubu and the Attorney-General of the Federation, asserting that the entire case against all respondents should be dismissed for lack of merit.

Maimuna Lami Ashiru, representing President Tinubu, along with Umaru Jibril, who stands for the Attorney General of the Federation, and Emmanuel Akumaye, representing the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Ebie, collectively urged the court to dismiss the case on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction.

Following the presentations from all parties involved, Justice Abdulmalik announced that the ruling on the preliminary objection, as well as the judgment regarding the main suit, would be delivered on October 31 of this year.

The case, designated as FHC/ABJ/CS/28/2024 and filed on January 11, 2024, involves plaintiffs who allege that both President Tinubu and the National Assembly violated the NDDC Act by screening and appointing Ebie Chiedu as the Chairman of the NDDC Board.

The plaintiffs contended that while Ebie hails from an oil-producing state, he is not eligible for the position of board chairman as he does not originate from the highest oil-producing region.

In the affidavit deposed in support of the suit, the plaintiffs averred that Ebie’s appointment “Was done in error and is against the clear provisions of the law.

“That the screening and confirmation of the 5th defendant by the Nigerian Senate was also done in error and was against the clear provisions of the law.

“That as a result of the facts above and in particular the facts in paragraphs 2 – 11, the appointment of the 5th defendant is null, void and of no effect”.

The plaintiffs, represented by their attorney B. B. Abalaba, requested the court to ascertain if Ebie, hailing from a community with limited oil production, is eligible to serve as the chairman of the 4th defendant, the Niger Delta Development Commission.

Additional matters for consideration include whether the 1st defendant’s appointment of the 5th defendant as chairman of the 4th defendant contravenes the provisions of the NDDC Act.

“Whether the appointment of the 5th defendant by the 1st defendant as the chairman of the 4th defendant is not Illegal null and void?

“They therefore prayed the court for an order setting aside the appointment of the 5th defendant as the chairman of the 4th defendant by the 1st defendant.

“An order of injunction restraining the 5th defendant from assuming office or in any way acting as the chairman of the 4th defendant.

“An order of injunction restraining the 4th defendant from recognizing the 5th defendant as its chairman or allowing him access into its premises for the purpose of beginning or continuing work as its chairman.

“An order of injunction restraining the 5th defendant from holding himself out as the chairman of the 4th defendant,”  the requests reads.

{naijaNews]

Lusail University in Qatar has announced a fully funded scholarship opportunity for Nigerian and international undergraduate students for the 2025 academic year.

A statement on the University’s website disclosed that the institution will offer twelve study programmes for the Qatar scholarship programme.

The institutions also disclosed that the programme will cover all essential costs, including tuition, accommodation, round-trip flights, visa fees, and monthly stipends for living and research expenses.

According to the report, the move is to support aspiring students from developing countries in their pursuit of higher education.

The Scholarship will be open to students who have graduated from high (secondary) school, as the programme is designed for international candidates looking to study at one of Qatar’s leading educational institutions.

Further details provided that to qualify for the Lusail University Qatar Scholarship, candidates must have earned a high school diploma with a score of 90% or higher, must be between the ages of 18 and 22 years, must have passed the personal interview, and passed the language test at Lusail University

The applicant must not have previously obtained any higher education certificate, and cannot be a resident of Qatar.

Prospective candidates must have several documents for their scholarship application including a medical fitness certificate, which will be verified upon arrival in Qatar.

The candidate must also have a certificate of good conduct from their home country, a written permission from a legal guardian, a certified birth certificate, a valid passport, and a high school certificate must also be submitted.

The high school certificate must be validated by relevant authorities to ensure equivalency with the standards set by Lusail University.

Interested candidates are directed to visit the scholarship website to review the eligibility criteria for their desired programme, as applicants must meet both academic and language requirements before proceeding.

Candidates were also directed to apply to Lusail University or another partner university within the Qatar Scholarships Programme.

After applying for admission, candidates will automatically be considered for the scholarship.

The deadline for scholarship applications is October 20th, 2024.

[Leadership]

I recently stumbled on a concept. It is called counter-factual history. “It is a form of historiography that attempts to answer the What if? questions that arise from counter-factual conditions,” according to Wikipedia. The dynamics of politics in Nigeria are counter-factual. There is always the what-if question in analysis and outcomes. It is easy to see many claiming to have won the election. Then, the slogan of “he will contest again” is the medium of solace in waiting for the next electoral circle. What if Tinubu doesn’t contest in 2027?

Counter-factual history is “conjecturing on what did not happen, or what might have happened, to understand what did happen.” How would the election play out? President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had a single ambition to become president and not necessarily a two-term president. He worked assiduously towards it for many years. He built bridges across the divide. He negotiated. He made pledges. He granted concessions. And he became president. Even when the odds were against him. He would want to replicate the Nelson Mandela example to make history as the only president who didn’t seek a second term in office.

I was in a conversation with a friend, and he mentioned that he saw a billboard that had President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife with the 2027 slogan. I told him it might not necessarily be the idea of the president, but an attempt by political merchants to lure him into the race again. The president sees and recognizes obstacles from a distance and he is not known to go into any fight he can’t come out victorious. In 2027 many variables would play out. A glimpse could be seen at the end bad governance protest. It was a message to the president about his rating in the north. In 2027, the third force would come from the north. This is why he won’t go into the race.

His strategy for the All Progressive Congress (APC) to win the presidential election is getting a young and bustling candidate from the north and not a (Hausa-Fulani). But a northerner whom the Hausa-Fulani can not reject. The vice presidential candidate would be a brilliant mind from the southeast who is well respected and known as an advocate of south-eastern interests.

We might see regular faces as standard bearers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP). There would be a third force party from the North as a protest. The implication is that the North and the East would be in a dilemma—the dilemma of choice. The south-east would likely go for the bird at hand, recognizing the incumbency advantage the APC has. It would be a case of once bitten twice shy. After Nnamdi Azikiwe and Alex Ekwueme, the south-east have not been lucky despite several attempts.

The PDP would try to balance their equation by going for a counter-strategy by picking a south-easterner as a vice presidential candidate, too. That would leave the LP in a dilemma. Picking a northerner as a vice presidential candidate would be of little impact because of the limited choices. The third-force from the North might jettison the idea given the prevailing circumstances and with the tendency that their lot would be better with the APC for religious reasons. The APC still had the advantage and won the election. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ate his cake and had it. He retires to Lagos, and life continues for him. His involvement in national politics would be greatly reduced. At least, he has joined the league of former presidents with the benefits accrued for life.

It would signal a new era of politics. The majority of the old order would retire. 60 years and above might struggle to make an impact. The agitation for youth involvement would be rife. The new president, himself a young person, would easily relate to the demands and pressure to score good political points to advance the acceptability of the administration. There is also the psychological aspect to it, and the excitement would be palpable among young people below the 60-year age bracket.

The losers would be sensational, and that would usher in a gale of retirements from active politics. The narrative would change completely, and the aces of the LP candidate would reduce tremendously because the youth constituency, a critical support base, would have switched camps. There would be no need for another shot at it. It might also bring about a retirement.

Please don’t forget that this is counter-factual history. It might be the case or not the case. But my instincts tell me it might be the case because of the many battles the president is fighting. He must have bruised many egos with his style of governance and possibly the political choices he must have made. He doesn’t seem apologetic about it. He had what he always wanted. He created history and it can not be reversed. The 2027 presidential elections will be very interesting and tenacious politics will play out. There would be a winner and losers, and lawyers would be disappointed. This is the counter-factual history of the 2027 presidential election.

Ocheja, a military historian and doctoral researcher, is an alumnus of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, has raised the interest rate by 50 basis points to 27.25 percent, the fifth hike since February 2024.

CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso disclosed this during a press briefing at the end of 297th MPC in Abuja on Tuesday.

The development comes as the country’s inflation rate eased for the second consecutive month in August to 32.15 percent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS.

Recall that at its last MPC meeting in July 2024, the apex bank raised the interest rate to 26.75 percent.

This is coming five days after the United States Federal Reserve announced a significant 0.5 percent cut to its interest rate, the first time since July 2023.

Economist and Executive Director of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Muda Yusuf had urged the CBN to pause interest rate hikes.

DAILY POST recalls that since February 2024, CBN has raised interest the rate four times – from 22.75 percent to 26.75 percent. Before the appointment of Cardoso in September last year, the country’s interest rate stood at 18.75 percent.

[DailyPost]

Airtel Nigeria, one of the country’s largest telecommunications companies, is turning to solar energy as a cost-effective solution to power its telecom infrastructure, as rising diesel prices have pushed the company’s fuel costs to a staggering ₦28 billion.

The telecom giant’s move towards renewable energy is part of a broader strategy to reduce operational expenses and enhance sustainability amidst Nigeria’s persistent energy challenges.

The Director of Corporate Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility revealed this during a media roundtable in Lagos on Tuesday, citing the company’s records as of May.

Airtel Nigeria’s Chief Technical Officer, Harmanpreet Dhillon, said the company was exploring alternative energy options such as solar power.

This shift is aimed at addressing the challenges posed by Nigeria’s unreliable power supply, which currently forces telecom operators to rely heavily on diesel generators.

More details to follow…

[Punch]

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has rejected a bill seeking to raise the retirement age of civil servants working in the national assembly.

In a letter on Tuesday to the President of the Senate, Tinubu stated why he did not sign the bill. 

Recall that in February, the Senate threw out the bill after a protracted debate, but the same Senate however made a U-turn and concurred to a similar bill passed by the House of Representatives.

The bill is seeking to increase the retirement age to 65 years or 40 years of service, whichever comes first.

The existing law prescribes 60 years of age or 35 years of service for retirement.

Tinubu while rejecting it, commended the Senate for the “diligent work” it put in drafting and passing the bill.

Tinubu’s letter read, “I write in respect of the harmonised retirement age for legislative officers of the national assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria bill passed by the national assembly and forwarded to me for assent,” he said.

“Upon thorough examination and careful consultation, I have decided to withhold my assent to the bill.

“This decision is made by the powers vested in me by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“However, I trust that this decision would be received with understanding and acceptance.”

[TheCable]

Mike Bamiloye, the founder of Mount Zion Faith Ministries International, has revealed that he and Gloria, his wife, obtained their court marriage certificate six years ago.

The couple tied the knot on October 8, 1988, and have three children and grandchildren.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Bamiloye, 64, recalled how he and his wife could not afford a honeymoon, wedding attire, or a court marriage.

He said it was not until an embassy required it that they finally secured their government-issued marriage certificate six years ago.

Bamiloye said, “we went to the wedding without the registry”. He said the money received on their wedding day was used to pay off debts.

He also expressed gratitude for his wife’s understanding and God’s grace which has sustained their marriage.

“When I got married, I didn’t have any money to take my wife to honeymoon. It was my Sister-in-Law that graciously bought the shoes and socks that I wore on my Wedding Day,” he wrote.

“I took my wife to the Registry to ask about Court Marriage and they told us the money to pay for the event, it was a very small amount of money. It was around N170.00 (One Hundred and Seventy NAIRA). But we could not get the Money so we collected their forms and never returned with it because I could not get the money required.

“So we went to the Wedding without the Registry. So we never had Government Marriage Certificate until about Six years ago when and Embassy demanded for it, because we didn’t have the money for Court Marraige.

“All the  Money we got on our Wedding day was used to settle the debts. But here we are sponsored by GRACE, I thank God I didn’t marry a lady who would put me on unwarranted pressures and unnecessary constraints. Glory be to God for GLORIA!”

In 2022, the cleric acknowledged her support in building their drama ministry.

[TheCable]

In Nigeria, a country known for its diversity in culture, language, and politics, certain states and their people stand out for their unique attributes. Among them is Edo State, with its people known for resilience, dogged determination, and a refusal to settle for anything less than excellence. This can-do attitude is often captured in the popular saying, “Edo nor dey carry last,” a phrase that not only reflects their refusal to be outdone but also their tenacity in overcoming challenges. No one embodies this spirit more than Adams Oshiomhole, fondly referred to as “Oshio Baba”.

Oshiomhole’s life, career, and political journey serve as a case study in resilience and tenacity. From his early days as a union leader to becoming the governor of Edo State and later the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oshiomhole has shown that he is not just a man of words but of actions and results. His life is the epitome of the “Edo nor dey carry last” ethos, a true son of the soil who fights for what he believes in and never backs down, no matter the odds.

Oshiomhole’s journey did not begin with the glitz and glamour of political office. He started from humble beginnings. Born in Iyamho, a small village in Edo State, Oshiomhole’s early life was not a bed of roses. He grew up understanding the struggles of the common man, and this shaped his world view. His rise from a poor background to becoming one of Nigeria’s most respected labor leaders and politicians is a testament to his unyielding spirit.

His years in the labor movement saw him engage with both military and civilian regimes, fighting relentlessly for the rights of Nigerian workers. As president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Oshiomhole led several successful protests and strikes against anti-labor policies, gaining national recognition for his courage and outspoken nature. His fearlessness in confronting the government on behalf of workers earned him the reputation of a champion of the people, a status he has maintained throughout his career.

In every protest, every negotiation table, and every political battle, Oshiomhole demonstrated that giving up was not an option. This doggedness is what has defined his public life and made him an icon, not only in Edo State but across the nation.

In 2008, Oshiomhole transitioned from labor activism to state governance, becoming the governor of Edo State. His entry into Edo politics marked the beginning of a new chapter for the state, as he vowed to bring about sweeping reforms that would impact every facet of life. Edo people, known for their sharp instincts and political awareness, saw in Oshiomhole a leader who would not compromise on development, accountability, and transparency.

During his two terms as governor, Oshiomhole transformed Edo State in ways that few had anticipated. His administration was focused on infrastructure development, improving education, healthcare, and creating opportunities for the youth. Under his leadership, Edo State witnessed a significant upgrade in its road network, with many rural and urban areas connected by well-constructed roads. This infrastructural revolution earned him accolades, as Edo people saw real progress and tangible development.

One of the key highlights of his tenure was his commitment to education. Oshiomhole recognized the importance of human capital development and ensured that schools across the state were upgraded, equipped, and properly managed. Teachers were retrained, and learning environments were improved to ensure that children from all backgrounds could have access to quality education.

The healthcare sector also saw notable improvements. Hospitals were rehabilitated, and healthcare services were brought closer to the people, particularly in rural areas. This was a significant departure from the previous administrations where development was centered on the capital city, Benin. Oshiomhole’s ability to think outside the box and reach all corners of the state exemplified the “Edo nor dey carry last” mentality.

Beyond his achievements as governor, Oshiomhole’s political career took another leap when he became the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2018. As chairman, he was tasked with the challenging responsibility of managing the party’s affairs in a turbulent period. Oshiomhole, known for his ability to stand firm in the face of adversity, did not shy away from the task.

Under his leadership, the APC navigated through several political storms, including the build-up to the 2019 general elections. He was instrumental in the re-election of President MuhammaduBuhari, a feat that underscored his strategic political prowess. Despite facing internal opposition and political wrangling within the party, Oshiomhole’s refusal to be silenced or side-lined exemplified the resilience he had shown throughout his career.

However, his tenure as chairman was not without its challenges. Political infighting and power struggles within the party eventually led to his removal from the position in 2020. But even in defeat, Oshiomhole remained defiant, a true representation of the Edo spirit that never backs down. His resilience in the face of adversity and his continued involvement in politics demonstrate that Oshiomhole is far from finished.

The spirit that Oshiomhole represents is not unique to him alone. It is reflective of the larger Edo identity. The people of Edo State have long been known for their achievements in various fields—education, politics, arts, and culture. From the ancient Benin Kingdom, one of Africa’s most advanced civilizations, to modern-day successes, Edo people have consistently shown that they do not settle for mediocrity.

Edo’s sons and daughters are found excelling not only in Nigeria but globally. In every sector, they demonstrate the values of hard work, persistence, and excellence. From business moguls to academics, artists to politicians, Edo people have a tradition of making their mark wherever they go. It is this tradition that has earned them the reputation of being people who never carry last.

As Oshiomhole’s political journey continues to inspire, there is a clarion call to the next generation of Edo youth. The future belongs to those who are willing to fight for it, just as Oshiomhole did. The challenges facing Nigeria today, from economic hardship to political instability, require the same spirit of resilience that Edo people have always demonstrated.

Edo youth must take up the mantle of leadership in their various capacities, ensuring that they contribute to the development of their communities, state, and nation. The saying “Edo nor dey carry last” should not just be a slogan, but a way of life, a constant reminder that no matter the obstacles, success is always within reach for those who strive for it.

In a country where political leaders often fade into obscurity after their tenure, Oshiomhole stands out as a man who continues to fight for what he believes in. His legacy, both as a labor leader and a politician, is one of resilience, perseverance, and a refusal to give up in the face of adversity.

Oshiomhole’s life story is a reflection of the Edo spirit, bold, fearless, and relentless. He has shown time and time again that “Edo nor dey carry last”, and as Edo people continue to break barriers and set new standards, Oshiomhole will remain an enduring symbol of that tenacity.

Oshio Baba, na true, you be Edo man. As you continue to navigate the political landscape, Edo people and Nigerians alike will always look to you as an embodiment of resilience and hope. Truly, Edo nor dey carry last, and neither do you.