By DADA AYOKHAI
Edo North senatorial district is home to many talented and resourceful individuals who have excelled in their respective fields of expertise. What’s more, some of them have gone on to serve the country in the highest positions of leadership, as governors.
There have been four governors from Edo North senatorial district in Nigeria. The area is also blessed with a beautiful landscape, featuring hills, rivers, valleys, and thick shrubs.”
Edo North district is comprised of six local government areas: Etsako West, Etsako East, Etsako Central, Akoko Edo, Owan East, and Owan West. It is considered a melting pot and an essential part of Edo State.
Edo State, which is now known as such, was formed out of the old Bendel State in 1991. Before that, the area was known as the Midwest Region.
Edo North individuals are at the forefront of various spheres of human endeavour, setting the pace and leading the charge. Whether it’s sports, civil service, military, medicine, architecture, engineering, accounting, labour unions, or politics, you’re likely to find someone from Edo North making significant contributions.
They are highly respected for their perfection, bravery, resourcefulness, and intelligence, which has made them highly sought after. They have also made invaluable contributions to governance and military service in Nigeria.
In the realm of military governance, certain military officers hailing from Edo North have served as military administrators of states at some point in time. Although they may not have been involved in the frequent coups of that period, they were appointed as military governors owing to their established military credentials.
Major General Agbazika Innih, CP Amen Oyakhire, Admiral Mike Akhigbe, Major General Abu, and Comrade Adams Oshiomole are four distinguished individuals from Edo North who have served as governors of different Nigerian states at various times.
Out of the four, only Comrade Adams Oshiomole, who is currently a senator representing Edo North in the 10th senate, is a civilian. The other three were in the military.
1) George Agbazika Innih
A renowned personality from Agenebode in Etsako East LGA. After the coup of July 29, 1975, led by Brigadier Muritala Mohammed, Innih was appointed as the military governor of the old Bendel State. However, after Muritala was assassinated on February 13, 1976, in the failed Dimka coup, Lt. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo was appointed as the military head of state, and Innih was reassigned to Kwara State as a military administrator in 1978.
Born on September 25, 1938, in Agenebode, Etsako East, Gen. Agbazika served commendably as both a military officer and governor.
2) Prince Amen Oyakhire
A thoroughbred police officer who served his country with utmost dedication. He hailed from Ozala, Owan West council area, and was born on October 21, 1945.
CP Oyakhire had the honour of serving as the military administrator of Taraba State from August 1996 to August 1998, during the military regime of the late maximum ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha. He also served as a military administrator of Oyo State during the transition regime of Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar and handed over to the elected civilian governor, in May 1999, at the birth of the Fourth Republic.
3) Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe (GCON)
He was a Vice Admiral of the Nigerian Navy. He was born on September 29, 1946, and passed away on October 13, 2013. Akhigbe held several sensitive positions in the military and hailed from Fugar in Etsako Central LGA. He served as the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) between 1994 and 1998, the military governor of Ondo State from 1985 to 1986, and the military governor of Lagos from 1986 to 1988.
Akhigbe also served as the de facto Vice President of Nigeria as the Chief of General Staff (CGS) under Gen. Abubakar between June 1998 and May 1999. During this time, the military handed over power to elected civilians.
4) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
Comrade Oshiomole is the only civilian on the list. He is from Iyamho, Uzairue clan in the Etsako West council area. Oshiomhole holds the record of being the first and only person from Edo North to govern Edo State as a civilian. He made his mark in the labour movement, where he rose to become the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) before making a successful foray into politics. He served two terms in office as the governor of Edo State, from 2008 to 2016 and presently the Senator representing Edo north district at the National Assembly.
An extract from compendium of Edo north Legislators from Bendel to Edo by Samuel DADA AYOKHAI
