By Andrew Emephia
Saturday August 1, 2020, would go down in the memory of that ‘‘privileged’’ family that witnessed the event.
Not because their ‘‘son’’ was not used to reckoning with them, or altruism was not hard wired in his DNA, but because this symbolized the apogee of his love for the entire ‘‘ORHUA’’.
Welcome to the epoch making event in the history of Mosogar Kingdom in Ethiope west local government area, as one time Commissioner for Education in the Ibori administration, Senior Political Adviser in the Uduaghan administration, a onetime Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Delta Central and currently the Chairman, Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, Chief (Senator) Ighoyota Amori, JP, single handedly built and handed over a N20 million fully furnished, conducive and aesthetically friendly ultra-modern hall for his UGBEDE extended family in Mosogar.
The historic and emotion laden event which was witnessed by Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ochor Christopher Ochor, member representing Uvwie constituency, Hon. Solomon Ighrakpata, former DTHA member representing Ethiope West Constituency, Hon. Anthony Akpomiemie, SSA to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Hon. Jude Fregene, 1st member of SUBEB, Hon. Philomina Ededey, representatives of the Hon. Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Christian Onogba, the PDP family in the local government area, led by the Party Chairman Solomon Obareki, Chiefs of the Kingdom as well as ecstatic members of the beneficiary UGBEDE family among other friends and well-wishers, was characterized by cultural dances, praise and worship as well as prayers.
In his opening speech to kick-start the event, the donor of the multi-million naira ultra-modern UGBEDE family town hall who is also the Otota (mouth piece) and Okobaro (the one in front), respectively of Mosogar Kingdom, Chief (Senator) Ighoyota Amori, said the support he has enjoyed from his family over the years set the ball rolling for his meritorious political career in which he was projected for counallor representing Mosogar and some parts of Idjerhe (Ward 6), in the defunct Bendel State in 1987.
While noting that he had always nurtured the plan, while being a councillor in 1987, to build a hall where his extended family could hold meetings and other social activities from time to time, Chief Amori, “Odidimadi” (as he is fondly called), thanked all his family members while also paying glowing tributes to his father, Chief OdanyorAmori who passed on in 1981 when he was studying for his second degree at the prestigious University of Ibadan.
Said Chief Amori: “Quite frankly, I have always enjoyed the support of my family in all ramifications since my political journey started in 1987 till date. It was a promise I made to reciprocate them as I have always done, but the building of this, edifice can be christered MY LEGACY PROJECT FOR THE UGBEDE family that has done so much for me. Like Jesus said in the Bible, “Upon this rock I will build my church.
“I made a promise and today it is a promise fulfilled. Ugbede family now have a befiting place to deliberate and celebrate. The place is also available to other families to use for the advancement of their families and Mosogar in general”.
Also commenting, the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly. Rt. Hon. Ochor Christopher Ochor, described Chief (Senator) Ighoyota Amori as one of the political founding fathers in Delta as well as a role model to him.
The Deputy Speaker said that the vision of Chief Amori during the Ibori administration witnessed the establishment of various territory institutions such as the Ogwashi-Uku, Ozoro and Otefe-Oghara Polytechnics, as well as the College of Physical Education, Mosogar, and countless others.
Rt. Hon. Ochor also added that not only is he an in-law to Mosogar (His wife hails from there), but he is also a “Sibling” of the Amori political school!
While dedicating the ultra-modern Ugbede family Hall, the former Chairman of the State Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Dr. Gideon Oyibo, who cut the tape and commissioned the edifice prayed for God’s blessing, grace, protection and breakthrough on Chief Amori.
The oldest man and head of UGBEDE family, Elder Aki Aghwe, as well as the women folk, also offered supplication to God for more grace on their son, Chief Ighoyota Amori.
The dedication and commissioning of the edifice may have come and gone, but the memories, incontrovertibly, will linger indelibly in the hearts of the Ugbede family in particular and the people of Mosogar Kingdom, in general. Such milestones are fitting epitaphs to the initiators, and in this case Chief (Senator) Ighoyota Amori.
Andrew Emephia, a veteran journalist, is the Chairman, Indigenous Correspondents’ Chapel (ICC), Nigerian Union of Journalists, (NUJ), Delta State Council.
