Unuigboje Daniel Reporting,
Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
The former National chairman of the Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria, Ambassador Dr. Odion Cedrack Okpebholo, has described Chief Anthony Enahoro the Adolor of Uromi as the pillar of Democracy whose motion for the granting of self governance in Nigeria from the colonial masters in 1953, and eventually became practicable in 1960 was the foundation of the Nigerian democratic system.
Ambassador Okpebholo, a former Governorship aspirant for the Edo 2024 Governorship race spoke to journalists at the unveiling and launching of the book “Chief Anthony Enahoro; An ICON of Leadership” on Saturday in Benin city.
It was the gathering of prominent sons and daughters of Uromi and entire Esan land to celebrate posthumously the life and legacies of Chief Anthony Enahoro who moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence at the floor of the Federal House of Representatives in 1953.
Okpebholo who has continued to render selfless service to his people in consonance with the vision of Chief Enahoro who stood for fairness, justice and equity in the society, commended Uromi peoples movement for providing an avenue to reflect on the life and legacies of the Nationalist and Icon.
He noted that despite the fact that he was not given the Governorship ticket by his party, it will not demoralized him in identifying with the socio-economic transformation of Edo Central Senatorial District, especially his Ancestral home, Uromi.
He expressed satisfaction that Esan land has produced prominent sons and daughters, especially politicians whose innovations, strategies and academic prowess have reshaped the political and social economic landscape of the country.
According to Ambassador Okpebholo, the tremendous contributions of Esan sons and daughters in refocusing, redesigning, revitalizing and revamping the economic, educational, health, agriculture, solid minerals and security sectors of the nation is unquantifiable.
The former national chairman of the Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria called on the indigenes of Uromi both at bome and in the diaspora to put resources together to erect a befitting statue of Chief Anthony Enahoro, the Adolor of Uromi in a strategic location in Esan North East Local Government Area to immortalized the nationalist and icon.