Ambrose Alli Day Celebration, 2023

 Ambrose Alli Day Celebration, 2023

 …Gov. Obaseki’s exemplary way

By: Oriaifoh Godwins

Since the exit of Professor Ambrose Folorunso Alli of blessed memory from the seat of government as the governor of the then Bendel (Edo and Delta) state, in 1983, several governors including Military Governor, Tunde Ogbeha, Governors Odigie Oyegun, Lucky Igbinedion, Professor Osahermen Osunbor, Adams Oshiomhole and now Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has occupied the seat of government in Edo state; but, none of them, apart from the incubent governor of Edo state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has ever paid attention to honoring Late Professor Ambrose Alli who established the popular Bendel state University, BENSU, Ekpoma, that later became Edo state University, EDSU, and now, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, an Ivory Tower that has produced eminent personalities, many of who have been making waves at the national and international levels.

 

The celebration of Professor Ambrose Alli day, under the auspices of the present Board of Trustees, BoT of the Foundation, I can recall, started in 2017; yours sincerely, was involved in the media activities of the event, and since then, it has been growing by leaps and bounds; however, in this year celebration, the executive governor of Edo state, Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, is taking the celebration to another level as he not only approved the payment of all the outstanding benefits of the late hero, of Esanland and hero of Edo and Delta states, Professor Ambrose Alli, he also honored the widow of the late Professor of Morbid Anatomy, during her 80th birthday celebration in London, when he sent delegation, led by his wife, Mrs. Betty Obaseki, to celebrate with her. What a Governor, Bravo! 

I wish I can recall any Governor of Edo or Delta state that did anything close to this, to honor Professor Ambrose Alli in the past.

Another unique phenomenon about the 2023 Ambrose Alli Day Celebration is the fact that a Professor of History and International Relations who obtained his Doctorate degree from Oxford University, London, who is the longest serving Permanent Secretary in the history of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is also a one-time Ambassador of Nigeria to a number of countries, Ambassador Professor Matin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi; this erudite scholar will be delivering a Lecture on the topic titled: Ambrose Folorunsho All: The ‘University Man’ as Intellectual Leader. Again, this is unique.

In view of the above, with respect to honoring our past heroes in Esanland, it has gone into the annals of history that, Governor Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki has set the ball rolling in Esanland. Esan people should therefore be reminded and encouraged by this gesture, to begin to do same, as there is a long list of names of unsung heroes of Esanland, including Tony Enahoro, Ijewere, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, Tony Aneni, Sunny Okosun, and a couple of others; these are Esan men of international repute that made Esanland proud at one time or the other.

As Esanland, Edo and Delta states and indeed the entire nation celebrate this outstanding ‘Torch Bearer’, Late Professor Folorunsho Alli, we pray that his soul continue to rest in perfect peace.