Delta lowers flag as government declares three-day mourning for Ogbemudia ~ Zeniths Blog

Delta lowers flag as government declares three-day mourning for Ogbemudia

Delta state government has declared a three-day mourning for late Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, former military administrator of Mid-West region and a civilian governor of the defunct Bendel state.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who gave the directive through the state director of information, Paul Osahor, said the three day mourning would commence from Monday March 13 to Wednesday March 15.

Delta declares three-day mourning for Ogbemudia

Samuel Ogbemudia

The directive stated that flags would be flown at half-mast in the state at both public and private institutions during the three-day mourning period.

Ogbemudia was appointed military administrator of Mid-West state in September 1967 following the liberation of state from the secessionist Biafran forces.

Promoted to Lt. Colonel, Ogbemudia was appointed military governor of the state on 26 October 1967. A populist, dedicated to reconstruction after the war, he initiated improvements in the areas of sports, urban development, education, public transportation, housing and commerce.

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He built the Ogbe sports stadium, now named the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and in August 1973 he commissioned the three-story National Museum in Benin City, the Edo state capital.

In July 1975, when Murtala Mohammed became head of state, he retired the twelve military governors who had served under Yakubu Gowon.

The retirement of the governors found guilty of corruption was converted to dismissal. Among these was Brigadier General Samuel Ogbemudia, whom Murtala had appointed eight years earlier, and whom he replaced by Colonel George Agbazika Innih. Ogbemudia was tried for abuses while in office, but acquitted.

During a brief return to civil rule, Samuel Ogbemudia was elected governor of Bendel State in Oct 1983 as candidate for the National Party of Nigeria, replacing Ambrose Alli of the Unity Party of Nigeria.

However, he lost his position in December that year when Muhammadu Buhari became military ruler after a coup d’état that overthrew civilian President Shehu Shagari.

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