BIOGRAPHY OF LATE HONOURABLE CHIEF OBANDE ALPHONSUS ODEH

Chief Honourable Obande Alphonsus Odeh has passed on. His demise happened on the 15th of December, 2018. A gem in the eyes of many and a foundation for many successes. In his not-so-short life, he affected a lot of people in several ways and the result of his impact will last for a very long time.
Born in Udegi Ikwokwu Ito in Obi Local Government Area of Benue State in 1942 as the fourth of four children, and the second son out of two boys, he was a bright young boy, who, in his own words “was always available to help out with chores whenever required”. He was baptized into the Catholic faith.
After losing his eldest Brother Egwu Odeh and his father earlier, his education had to face more difficult challenge, but he was undaunted.
With hard work and doggedness, he put in his all into his struggle for a better life, doing several task at different times, in order to find a perfect fit for his personality and to diversify his income stream.
He started his Primary Education at Innocent Primary School in Ugbodom Ikwokwu Ito in the year 1949 to 1950. He also attended St. Patrick’s Primary School Obarike Ito from 1951 to 1952 and St. Mary’s Primary School Otukpo from 1953 to 1955. He then proceeded to St. Francis College Otukpo in 1956 for his secondary education. The young and vibrant Obande Odeh, then taught briefly at RCM School Ekpong Ainu from 1957 to 1958 before going for further studies. In 1959, he got admission to the St. Francis Teachers College and graduated in 1961. After working for a few years and with his quest for more knowledge, he was admitted to the St. Augustine’s College Lafia from 1968 to 1969.
He has vast teaching experience, going by his training in school, love for education and his pupils. He has virtually worked and taught in most of the schools across the length and breadth of Igedeland. Among these schools are; St. Patrick’s Primary School Obarike Ito in 1962. St. Michael’s Primary School Itogo from 1963 to 1965. Immaculate Heart’s Primary School Adiko in 1965 and 1967. He worked at St. Thomas’ Primary School Oju in 1966. St. John’s Primary School Igwe Ebong in 1968 and from 1973 to 1974. He also worked at Innocent Primary School Ugbodom from 1970 to 1972 and from 1975 to 1976. In all these schools, he had worked as either a classroom teacher or as a school headmaster.
The saying that a big fish has no hiding place in a pond and that wherever one is, your hard work and dedication to duty will always be rewarded happened in the life of the young Obande Odeh, when his people beckoned on him to run an errand for them. He was called to run for the Councillorship position at the Local Government Council in November 1976. A position he contested and won. He was made the Supervisory Councilor for Education, Health and Social Services up till December 1978. Having been tested and trusted by his people, he was called for higher responsibility. At this time, to become a member of the Benue State House of Assembly. A responsibility he also accepted and offered himself to contest. He won gallantly and overwhelmingly to the admiration of his opponents under the platform of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN. He served as a Benue State Legislator from October 1979 to September 1983. He was a very vibrant lawmaker, contributing to very crucial issues on the floor of the House and on the issues that concern his immediate constituency of Ito. Being a pioneer lawmaker from Ito to the State Assembly, he was also the first and the leading voice in the government circle to advocate for the creation of Obi Local Government. A dream which finally became a reality in 1996, with the collaborations of other leading voices and notable people from Ito. At his time, Honourable Obande Odeh, was also known to have a leading voice on issues about boundaries and boundaries adjustment and education.
Upon completion of his tenure in office as a state lawmaker and the collapse of the Second Republic, he retired home to help develop his community by expressing his commitment to equity, solidarity, participative democracy, environmental and social justice and to achieve sustainable development, rights, economic opportunities and justice for all instead of staying at the urban centre and enjoying his private life.
From 1987 to 1999, he was appointed Chairman, School Task Force in Education for Primary Schools Zone D comprising Ogore, Adum West and Ikwokwu Schools. From 1987 to 2004, he was appointed member of Management Committee on Water and Sanitation in Obi Local Government Council. He later became the Chairman of the Management Committee. He was a member of the PRRC in Obi. In October 2005, he was honoured with a chieftaincy title as the Chief of Omuhu District, Zone B in Obi Local Government Area of Benue State.
His hobbies are hunting, getting information and playing of Tennis Ball.
He was a family man to the core. He was happily married to Mrs Juliana, Mrs Veronica, Mrs Cecilia and Mrs Rhoda; the four wives gave him a total of twenty four children, forty grand children and four great grand children. His impact on the lives of his wives and the children cannot be easily forgotten because of his constant love and sacrifice for them. He has denied himself at several times of immediate pleasure for the education and future of his children. He never joked with education. He had a personal library where he stocked popular novels written by popular authors during his days. These novels were going to wet the reading culture which he imbibed in his children in the future. He also ensured that children of his brothers and relatives completed their school at his supervision.
To his children, he was an available father. He was also a strict disciplinarian, never failing to discipline his children when they veered off the right path. Despite depending on only his pension at sometimes which was also not steadily forthcoming because of administrative bottle necks with the pension boards, he ensured that he imbued in them tenets that would be instrumental to their growth as useful citizens. He often promised to ensure that they are educated to any degree they desire. Unlike the prevalent nature of fathers, he also tried not to force them to pursue any discipline just because he wants it. Instead he gave his children the freewill to make their choices, trusting God that their upbringing would direct them in the right path.
To his wives, he was a backbone and moral support. Even though, like every human, he erred once in a while, he always ensured he settled any differences they had in due time. He never drove them out nor considered leaving the marriage when they had misunderstandings; instead he showed love and brought an aura of peace into the marriage.
In his later years, he was actively involved in church activities at the St. Paul’s Catholic Church Udegi.
He enjoyed the company of friends in the community, where he was respected as an elder and he never fails to lead by example wherever needed. Among the qualities that endeared him to his friends are his self awareness, eagerness to learn and adapt, listen to others, empathy, honesty and integrity, motivational, forward thinking and above all, the fear of God.

Dear Obande, you were a husband, father, brother, uncle and friend to many, before death plucked you from our midst. Even though we are saddened by losing you, we take solace in the Word of God, which says: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies” – John 11:25. And we believe that you are living and resting at the bosom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.