Opinion: Open Words of Commendation to Edo State Executive Governor, Godwin Obaseki for Remembering Late Prof Ambrose Alli 34 Years After

" It is better to be well deserving without praise than to live by the air of undeserved commendation"- Roger Chamberlain

By Mike Cerutti Osagie

The recent announcement by the Executive Governor of Edo state Mr Godwin Obaseki that all the benefits and gratuity of former Governor of the state Prof Ambrose Alli 34 Years after his demise is one good news that deserves an open commendation

It is a known fact that we the entire Esans worldwide do not joke with the brand name called Prof Ambrose Alli- a man who did so much as Governor of the old Bendel state and it is pathetic that successive Edo Government did not Accord him his due respect

* Brief on Prof Ambrose Alli..

Prof Ambrose Folorunsho Alli (22 September 1929 – 22 September 1989) was a too  Nigerian medical professor who served as Executive Governor of the defunct Nigerian state of Bendel State (now the Nigerian states of Edo and Delta) between 1979 and 1983. He was the first civilian governor.

Originally born in  Ondo state In his childhood he moved between Oka-Odo, Ekpoma, Owo, Efon-Alaye, Benin City and Asaba, where he completed his secondary education in 1948. He attended the School of Agriculture Ibadan (1948) and the School of Medical Technology, Adeoyo Hospital Ibadan (1953–1960) where he gained an MBBS. He served as a house officer at the Adeoyo hospital from 1960 to 1961. He went to the United Kingdom for a post-graduate course in neuropathology at the University of London (1961–1966), gaining a D.C. pathology degree. Later he studied at the University of Birmingham from 1971 to 1974.

He was a lecturer at the University of Ibadan (1966–1969) and was senior lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1969–1974). From 1974 to 1979, Alli was professor of morbid anatomy and head of the department of pathology at the University of Benin, Benin City.

From the medical field he moved into politics and under the tutelage of his mentor late Sage chief Obafemi Awolowo he became the first democratic Governor of Brendel state and achieved many success chief of which was the establishment of the Ambrose Alli University which  was originally founded as Bendel State University in 1981. It then became Edo State University in 1992 and took its current name in honour of its founder, the first executive state governor of Bendel Ambrose Alli

• Obaseki landmark achievement

No doubt the news by Edo State governor Godwin Obaseki, that all  the benefits and gratuity of the former governor of the state, the late Professor Ambrose Alli has been settled is good development Worthy of Celebration. This is coming 34 years after the demise of Alli.

Obaseki had  made this disclosure while lamenting how the unpaid benefits of the former governor were settled last week by the state government.

Obaseki said, “Last Saturday (August 19, 2023), the widow of former governor of Bendel (Edo) State, the late Prof. Ambrose Ali, turned 80 years old in Birmingham, United Kingdom. He has made a lot of sacrifices for us as a state.

“We decided to celebrate with her and I asked one of the children what he thinks is an appropriate present for her mother. He said, ‘just do her the honour of paying my father’s benefits while in office.’ Then I said, ‘you mean Prof. Ali benefits are not paid. He said yes.’ We went into the records, prepared the cheque and took it to her in England. This is to tell you where we are coming from. I’m glad we remembered him,” he said.

We the youths and entire Esans both at home and worldwide now wishes to openly thank the Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki for Remembering our hero Prof Ambrose Alli 34 Years after his exit - we are delighted and wish the Governor all the best in his future endeavors

• Osagie , a humanitarian & Publisher sent this piece from his Lagos Base

He can be contacted via email chiefcerrutti@gmail.com

Sms Only+234 7042631895