The former Military Governor of defunct Mid-West State and defunct Bendel State, Brigadier General Samuel Ogbemudia (rtd) is dead.
A spokesman for the family, Gentleman Amegor, who addressed newsmen at his family house in Iheya Street, Benin City the Edo State capital said the elder statesman passed on Thursday night at about 11:45am.
He died at the age of 84 at a private hospital in Lagos.
“Yes he is dead, we are going to miss him. He was a very great man, accomplished man. He served Bendel as it was then and also served Edo State as it is now.
“Yes he also served Mid-West as it was then, so we expect that people should join us to give him a befitting burial,” Amegor said.
Also, a family friend, Dr. Luke Abbas, said “our father is a great father and he has contributed much, honestly speaking God has done the best but I know he has contributed his best in life”.
While serving as Governor of the old Bendel State, Dr. Ogbemudia initiated improvements in the areas of sports, urban development, education, public transportation, housing, commerce and agriculture.
He was military Governor of the Mid-West State between 1967–1975, which was later renamed Bendel State, part of which in turn became Edo State.
After the return to democracy in 1999, late Ogbemudia was active in party politics until he resigned recently, but continued to be vocal in matters of national interest.
In an exclusive interview with Channels Television while celebrating his last birthday, the former administrator said “I sympathise with Buhari because what he is going through is not of his own making.
“It’s like a foundation somebody laid down for him and he has two options, either to build up the foundation or to remove it and set a better one.
“I think he is trying to remove it, trying to establish a good foundation for a better economy”.