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By Vivian Onyebukwa
Asaba, the capital of Delta State, was agog recently in honour of Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje as he retired from the civil service. At a reception in his honour, people from far and near came to honour a man regarded as an example of a good man. It was a day of joy as they spent time and resources to express their love and honour to a man whom they said served them for 35 years without blemish.
•The celebrant, Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje, wife, clergy and other guests after the service
Ogidi-Gbegbaje is not a politician nor a billionaire but just a civil servant who had a great career doing a public job so well that he endeared himself to the public.
•During the church service
Part of the activities was a thanksgiving mass, which took place at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, West-End Asaba. The church was filled to capacity with people who came to identify with him.
The priest, Very Rev. Fr. Peter Mobuoku, who celebrated the thanksgiving mass, wondered how the high and mighty could gather with the low and plebeian to celebrate a man who was no other than a public officer who had no wealth nor positions to give.
In his homily, Mobuoku observed that thanksgiving masses are usually requested by persons who are newly appointed to office, which usually attract followers who hope to benefit from the newly elected or appointed office holder. But it was so remarkable that the biggest church in Asaba was filled to the doors for the thanksgiving of a man who was retiring from service and had nothing more to give anyone.
Indeed, Eddy’s drawing power was acknowledged by no other than the governor himself who was at the church and at the reception ceremony. The governor, Elder Sheriff Oborevwori, conceded how difficult it was for the civil service to have in one person the combination of traits: good work ethics and interpersonal relationships that Eddy brought to work and sustained throughout his career in the Delta State Civil Service.
He said: “It is my joy and pleasure to attend this thanksgiving service in honour of one of the brightest and best that the Delta State Civil Service has produced. Sir Eddy Ogidi-Gbegbaje is the quintessential civil servant, intelligent, humble, diligent, transparent, process-driven, selfless, accountable and compassionate.
“It is hard not to like Mr. Ogidi-Gbegbaje. His zeal, commitment to his work and passion for excellence put him above his peers and colleagues. No matter how trying the circumstances, Eddy never lost his cool; he was always smiling. He excelled in his job and has this ability to make the most complex problems look simple. The high point of his service is the judicious counsel that comes with every service rendered. As he bows out, his dignified but simple manner of carrying out his responsibilities, coupled with offering advice on how best an administrative process and procedure should be carried out, will be dearly missed.”
Others who graced the occasion were immediate past governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, Ighoyota Amori, an influential politician in the state, and many other politicians.
Okey Ofili, retired Head of Service of the state, gave a resounding lecture on Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje days earlier at the unity hall of the Government House as part of activities marking the event.
The man Edwin, or Eddy as he is fondly called, was an unrelenting perfectionist in the service of Delta State government. Eddy as a civil servant was essentially a workaholic and a policy wonk. His work habits were given to the kind of perfectionism that awes anyone who worked or associated with him. He would not leave his office even at midnight until memo’s were perfected and all policy papers were properly laid out. His knowledge of government policies and their different institution-building mechanisms vastly enhanced the public image and perception of the politicians he worked with.
His expertise in linking policy to achievable developmental goals and the capacity to coordinate the different MDAs to achieve set policy objectives made him the most sought after civil servant and advisor to governors of Delta State. He knew the intricate workings of government intimately and grazed off hand through its inherent limitations and so he embodied the knowledge of government institutions and carried with him the power of memory and recall to avoid pitfalls in policy formulations.
Vice-chancellor, Delta State University, Abraka, Prof. Andy Ogochukwu Egwunyenga, stated that Ogidi-Gbegbaje embodied the ideals of the civil service: “He is endowed with enormous knowledge, patriotic zeal and uncommon commitment to the development of the Delta commonwealth. These fine attributes enabled him to emerge as a permanent secretary at the young age of 46.
“His sparkling records in the civil service remind us of the glorious careers of avatars like Allison Ayida, Philip Asiodu, Abdulazeez Attah and Ahmed Joda, among others who entrenched the noble ideals of the civil service as the vehicle for nation-building.”
Rev. Sr. Mary Frances (MLM) of the Missionaries of Love & Mercy said: “Goodness cannot be hidden, for it is like perfume that diffuses from source to the surrounding areas. Such was the impact of your service and we remain grateful to God for giving you the grace to serve the people of Delta so well”.
Also, Rev Sister, Mary Therese-Anne Ugwuja who previously ran the orphanage at Okpanam near Asaba, came all the way from Aba to be part of Eddy’s valedictory thanksgiving mass. She said: “I’m speechless. I find it hard to believe that all these people, cars, Keke and motorcycles are gathered for one man. Eddy made my work at the orphanage at Okpanam easy. He virtually was keeping the place alive. I didn’t even know that he was doing the same thing for many others. Virtually every parish in the Isele-Uku diocese was touched by Eddy.”
Ifeanyi Osuya, Deputy Director (Estabs), Government House, Asaba, said: “Kindly permit me to bring to limelight that your retirement events in the past few days made it crystal clear that you broke different records, created diverse records and established multiple records. The feats are spectacular, endearing and highly virtuous. A legacy into memory lane, in the annals of goodwill and service, that judgement and justice will forever exalt and extol. I am honestly very proud to be your protégé.”
“I admire and respect how hard you’ve worked over your long career. Nothing but the best, that’s what you always gave”, Onaboifo Olu-Tokunbo (Lulu), who also described him as a fine gentleman, said.
“The Bible says that, he that waters must himself be watered. Eddy, you watered many people including my humble self, no wonder God Almighty has watered you, said Patrick Ejime Okoh (rtd), Executive Secretary, Local Government Pension Bureau, Office of the Head of Service.
“PS, an illustrious career comes to an end. I am equally glad our paths crossed during my time with the state government and we forged a good bond and working relationship,” Chiedu Ebie, former Secretary to State Government, Delta, said.
His daughter, Jennifer Ogidi-Gbegbaje, described him as a role model and a leader to her and her siblings. “Thank you, daddy for everything.”
The Boys Brigade, Boys Scouts and squadrons of the Nigerian Red Cross were on ground, providing security and support for the milling crowd and associations, who graced the occasion.
