By Francis Onoiribholo - Bureau Chief Benin
THE two-time governor of the defunct Midwest and Bendel state, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, has tasked Edo youths on the need to play their part to end kidnapping, armed robbery and corruption in the country.
Ogbemudia, who made the call during his investiture as the grand patron of Edo Youths United For Democracy (EYFD) headed by Andrew Emwanta, said no government whether at state or federal level can do all the job alone, stressing that the youths have to play their own part.
According to him, the youths have a role to play to convince their immediate environment that it takes two to tangle, it takes two to make peace, therefore all hands must be on deck for our own survival.
“Today, yesterday, the day before, there were reports of kidnapping, armed robbery all the lot, so if we are to stop corruption, stop armed robbery, stop kidnapping, then Edo youth must play a very important part as a people, no government whether at state level or Federal can do all the job alone.” Ogbemudia also reminded the youths that in a few weeks or months from now, the Federal Government will be putting together a conference that will bring together all Nigerians and their representatives to discuss their future.
While recalling American’s think tanks’ prophesy that by 2015 Nigeria will disintegrate, Ogbemudia warned that Edo youths must never allow this to happen, urging them to continue to pray and use their energy to resist any form of disintegration.
“We have fought a civil war and that war was fought to preserve the unity of Nigeria and we will let that be the last and we must pray that that unity be stronger at the end of 2015.
“So, for all of you, my prayer is that all your problems God in his infinite mercy has identified it, He should take it over and solve it and those of you who have no jobs, we pray that you will get a job so that you can look after yourself, your family who spent their resources to train you.“For those of you, who are still pursuing your education, please do, because there is nobody too old to study, nobody too old to read. I was present at the Open University graduation in London when one man, a 94 years old was graduating and when he was asked why at 94, he said, “I have always looked forward to getting a degree”. Ogbemudia while thanking EYFD for the honour used the occasion to speak on the controversial Edo house in Lagos, declaring that “when I was away I heard that somebody mentioned the name of the person who built the Edo House. I am not going to argue it but I do remember however that I drew the plan of that house , sent it to Lagos Ministry for approval, at that time, Gen. Obasanjo who was then a Colonel was the Federal Commissioner for works and he objected to the content of that plan because we had planned to put a swimming pool on the top floor and he said if many heads of state will be visiting Nigeria and be using those federal government houses the girls who are swimming up there half naked will be looking at those people and so we should remove the swimming pool and bring it down, and we did.”
“I invited Pedrochi Nigeria Limited to quote for it and he agreed with me that he was going to receive five million naira in building that house, the same amount we used in building the High Court. It is also possible that it was after I left that they completed the building and somebody opened it, so the credit goes to the person who opened the place. I am not disputing it, but history will no doubt find the truth”.
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