My Mother Taught Me The Virtues Of Honesty, Prepared Me For Governance, Says Oshiomhole

DIGNITARIES AT THE BOOK LAUNCH IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE
DIGNITARIES AT THE BOOK LAUNCH IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has described his mother, Hajia Aishetu Oshiomhole, as a “thorough politician”, who taught him the virtues of honesty and prepared him for governance in the midst of challenges.

The governor, who spoke at the launch of a biography in honour of his mother, “Igovina Emosi, (Queen of the Girls)” at Iyamho, in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State at the weekend, noted that Hajia Oshiomhole taught him early in life that the resources of the people must not be coveted no matter the condition.

He said “My mom is a woman of virtue. She has a very kind heart and somehow she taught the values of being straightforward. My mom has been the unofficial treasurer of various community meetings where the books are not written and she kept the money under the carpet and yet when we are going to school and we need money, she would say there is no money.

“I would say there is money under the carpet and she would say that the money belongs to the community. Those are some of the values we seem to have lost. How women would contribute money and at the end of every month the money is shared. That way they are able to empower
themselves. There were no issues of cheating.

“My mom was always settling quarrels such that we never had peace at home. Every quarrel, mama must hear. I asked her what her problem was and she responded if people come to you that they are quarrelling won’t you settle them?

“Even now at her age, I discourage her from getting involved in all sorts of things but she would remind me that she knows politics more than me. I once teased her that whatever she thinks she knows in politics, she was never elected not even as a councillor”, he said.

Recalling a particular instance where the advice of his mother proved most useful, the comrade governor said: “On the 14th of November, 2007, NTA and AIT reporters came to interview me on my reaction to the election and I told them there was no election. I got information that there were a lot of malpractices and cheating. They did not allow people to vote and I said was calling for cancellation.

“Once Mama heard the word ‘cancellation’, she said, ‘You don’t talk like that. Tell them that you won and should be declared the winner’. And as you can see, what my mom said I should demand for and be declared the winner was at the end upheld, not only by the tribunal but also by the Court of Appeal. She has proved the point that she is a thorough politician, with or without English”.

Present at the event were the Deputy Governor, Dr Puis Odubu; the Secretatry to the State Government, Professor Julius Ihonvbere; the Chief of Staff, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, Commissioners, members of the National Assembly, the State House of Assembly and chieftains of the All Progressive Congress in the state.

Earlier, the Chairman of the event and a former Minister of State in the Federal Ministry of Works, Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi, praised Governor Oshiomhole for providing infrastructure in the state.

Also speaking, the book reviewer, Professor Marcel Okhaku, said that the book, written by Imuzeze Ofen-Imu, focused on the life and times of mother of the governor, whose childhood exploits in Ayua and Iyamho were legendry and distinguished her among her peers.