Orbih Tasks Nigerians on Political Participation

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman in Edo State, Chief Dan Orbih has challenged Nigerians to constructively engage political office holders to enable them provide good governance.

He made the charge at the weekend in Benin shortly after bagging an award from

the Nigeria Academicians' and Authors' Association (NAAA)

in commemoration of the 2014 World Book Day,
Orbih, who donated N500,000 each for the provision of books for students and the NAAA, said it was the duty of the academic community to constantly appraise the political class so they can contribute their quota to the development of the country.

He spoke glowingly about a former governor of the defunct Bendel State, Late Prof Ambrose Alli.

Orbih said Alli laid a solid foundation for the development of education in the present Edo and Delta states.

“Within two years, Alli established 80 new secondary schools. The result was that the number of secondary schools in the defunct Bendel State rose from 187 to 850 between 1979 and 1983,” said the PDP chairman.

“He also abolished school and entrance fees. He established additional four colleges of education, apart from the one in Abraka, to train teachers.

“Prof. Alli paid bursaries to students of tertiary institutions and awarded scholarship to deserving students. He also established two polytechnics at Ozoro and Ogwashi-Uku. He established five colleges of agriculture. Above all, he established the Bendel State University that was fittingly named after him much later,” reminded Orbih.

He, however, lamented that the late governor was not being celebrated.

Said Orbih, “Those who painted already existing schools and changed roofs and windows were asking to be praised to high heavens.”

He advised the Edo State government on the proposed

test for teachers, appealing that those found wanting be sent for in-service training.

Also honoured was a former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, immediate past president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Peter Esele, and Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Edo State, Mr. Henry Idahagbon, among others.