By DADA AYOKHAI
Dele Momodu: Ihievbe Community Craves For More Visits
By DADA AYOKHAI
The inhabitants of the Ihievbe community in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State are eager for more from their illustrious son, Chief Dele Momodu.
Since his historic visit to the community before the 2022 PDP presidential primary, where he ultimately stepped down to support Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Chief Dele Momodu seems to have endeared himself to his kinsmen
They are now clamouring for him to visit more frequently as well as take on greater roles.
According to information gathered by our reporter, who spoke with many residents of the Ihievbe community, Chief Dele Momodu’s first homecoming in late 2022 brought a lot of good things to the community but that momentum seems to be waning
They further postulated that his aura, personality, fame and charm rubbed off positively on the community in terms of news coverage and business boom
There was an influx of journalists coming to the community to verify that Chief Momodu truly hailed from there, and this was said to have boosted passenger traffic and other commercial activities
Similarly, the Ihievbe community was thrust into the national spotlight on account of Chief Momodu’s visit
The 2022 homecoming of Chief Momodu, though long overdue, helped to garner support for him, dispelled any doubts about his roots and ancestry, while also sparking a renewed sense of hope among the people
Chief Momodu, a renowned journalist and political activist, is the publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Ovation Magazine, a popular monthly publication celebrated for its insightful coverage of social events like weddings, parties, and housewarmings, particularly among the nouveau riche.
Community sources told Borderline News 24 that the homecoming visit also afforded the celebrated media mogul the rare opportunity to share the story of how his late father, Mr Jacob Momodu, migrated from Ihievbe to Ile-Ife in present-day Osun State in search of greener pastures, where he met and married a local beauty. The couple’s only child happens to be Chief Dele Momodu.
Not long after his inaugural visit, he was said to have begun the construction of his grand country home.
The housewarming ceremony is still the talk-of-the-town among residents, with dignitaries from near and far, including the Owan political leader, Sen Yisa Braimoh, gracing the event
Sen Yisa Braimoh is the first and only Owan person to represent the Edo North district in the Senate
Ever since, the cravings for Chief Momodu has upped, with the people looking forward to a re-enactment of his historic visit
To the average Ihievbe inhabitant, they claim his presence brings good omen and business boom
In addition, they pointed out that Chief Dele Momodu’s aura and enchanting personality is what the community requires at this critical period to change its fortunes, adding he is too good to stay away from the land of his father’s birth
Also, they disclosed that his eye popping country home in Ihievbe is one of the major landmarks in the community and stressed further that the place is fast turning into a tourist attraction
They were, however, quick to add that the road leading to Chief Momodu’s country home is in a terrible condition just as others, especially the road connecting Owan, Auchi, Afuze and Benin
A commercial motor cyclist who regularly plies the route confirmed that they make a lot of brisk business ferrying passengers who come from far and near to catch a glimpse of the Chief Dele Momodu eye popping country home
He added that the palatial edifice is fast turning into a tourist attraction, pointing out that the architectural masterpiece continues to bring people to the community
They said it would really excited them if Chief Dele Momodu can make the community his permanent abode
Alternatively, they hoped he could be coming around as often as possible, stressing his presence might help influence the state government to give priority attention to the roads in the area.
Lamenting about the dearth of amenities, they posited that Ihievbe community is lagging far behind in terms of roads, schools, water boreholes and so on
They insisted the community needs as much help as it can get and called on Chief Dele Momodu to make it a point of duty to visit regularly, adding this will go a long way in addressing the abject neglect the community has faced in recent years
