Rt Hon (Dr) Pius Egberanmwen Odubu: The Gentle Giant

The Executive Deputy Governor of Edo State – RT Hon (Dr) Pius Egberanmwen Odubu.
Any excursion through the glorious life and enthralling works of Pius Odubu will qualify as a bestsellers any day; a literary masterpiece that can capture the imagination of the most ardent skeptic; a legendary, but factual, account of an inspiring life very well lived; the rendition of a sonorous sonata that is as enchanting as it is alluring; a poetic account of the evolution of a colossus per excellence – a lyrical description of an evolving force of nature so to speak.
The story of the evolution of the man today known as Pius Egberanmwen Odubu is unlike those of most of his contemporaries. From his very humble beginnings as an impressionable young man eking out a living in the tropical heats of Uhromehe, to the present hallowed heights he currently occupies as the deputy chief executive officer of the “Heartbeat of Nigeria”, it has been one eventful saga strewn with pleasant twists and turns; a mouthwatering drama full of sweet suspense – an epic story of the rise and rise of a giant.

RT Hon (Dr) Pius Egberanmwen Odubu (BL) hails from Uhromehe in Urhonigbe North, in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State. A family man with four children, he is a Barrister at law of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, having been called to the bar in 1986. He attended St Pius Primary School, Urhomehe, Immaculate Conception College, Benin City, in the defunct Bendel State, where he received a Scholarship Award from the then Benin Area Joint Board. In 1977, at the tender age of 19, young Pius proceeded to the United States of America, to further his education. While in God’s own Country, he attended Georgetown University Law Centre, Washington DC; Southern University School of Law, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Odubu holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree in Law; a Masters of Law in International and Comparative Law; and a B.A (Hons) in Political Science. On returning to Nigeria in 1985, he proceeded straight to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, and was called to the bar in 1986. He is the recipient of several honours and scholarship awards, amongst which are: College Marshall (Best Student), College of Arts and Humanities, Southern University, Baton Rouge Louisiana, USA, May, 1980; Managing Editor, Southern University Law Review; National Dean’s list (USA); Member Southern University School Law, Moot; Member – WHO is WHO in American Universities; Member, Southern University School of Law, Moot Court Board – the first non-American to be so honoured; Managing Editor, Southern University Law Review – the first non-American to occupy that position; Certificates of Award and Merit from the Southern University School of Law, Moot Court Board; Certificates of Academic Excellence from Southern University; Academic Scholarship for all three years of the Jurist Doctorate Programme; Merit Award as the Best Deputy Governor;

The most Outstanding Deputy Governor Award by the Nigerian Union of Journalist, Edo State Council; Certificate of Honour from the RT Hon Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, National Assembly, Abuja; Representative of the Southern University Law School at the National Conference of Law Review in California, USA; one of the five most Loyal Deputy Governors in Nigeria Award by the Guardian Newspaper; and several others, too numerous to mention due to lack of space. Odubu is a roundly – formally and informally – educated man; a sound mind of nom mean repute; one imbued with a completely enlightened and highly eclectic mindset; an illuminated mind so to speak.
With the return of democracy to the country in 1999, Odubu ventured into politics, and won election into the Federal House of Representatives, representing Orhionmwon/Uhumwode Constituency of Edo State. He was returned again in 2003. During his stints in the National Assembly, he worked under several Committees and attracted several development projects to his Federal Constituency. From 1999 to 2003, he was the Sub-Committee Chairman of the Appropriation, Federal Capital Territory, and Labour Committees. While from 2003 to 2007, he worked as a member of the Public Account, Navy, Marine Transport, Anti-corruption, Commerce, and Works Committees. During his stewardship in the National assembly, he provided employment opportunities for several individuals from his constituency, and financial assistance to law students at the Nigerian Law School, Abuja who hail from his constituency. All these he achieved before taking up his present assignment as the Deputy Governor of Edo State.

It was no surprise, therefore, when Governor Oshiomhole, an avid reader of men, obviously sensing the hallmark of a genius in Pius Odubu, chose him as his assistant; saw the mark of a mastermind in this gentle giant; that mark that separates wheat from chaff; that insignia of greatness; that distinguishing label that draws the line between the ordinary and the special. True to the dictates of his hunches he went for the man he saw not just as a political ally, but as a potential brother and friend; somebody he could trust; somebody who was ready-made for the task at hand; somebody who had no qualms standing up to whatever challenges the dilapidated project was bound to throw up; somebody poised to join in breaking the Gordian Knot of mind-bending poverty the state and its people were knotted to; somebody who was predisposed to succeeding against all the formidable odds that were starring them in the face; a combatant who would not scamper for safety in the face of potential battle; a winner and conqueror in his own right. He saw these sterling qualities, and even more, before making up his mind on his choice of a deputy.
Since assuming his current position as the Deputy Chief Executive of the state, Odubu has displayed an atypical sense of humility; a rare trait among today’s politicians – especially public office holders – who, as soon as they get into office, become puffed up with pride; assume god-like images that mere mortals are expected to revere. Not this man, who has remained as down to earth as is unusual with somebody occupying a high office in Nigeria. Both in his relations with his boss and the ordinary man on the streets, Odubu has maintained a demeanour that has set him apart from the crowd. He is a man who sees his hallowed status as a privilege and not a right; a man who sees the position he occupies as an honour afforded him by the magnanimity of his boss who selected him ahead of other candidates in 2008 to be his running mate.
Dr Odubu has maintained a fluid, cordial and blissful relationship with his boss in his capacity as an assistant; a synergistic affair that has stood the test of time, resulting in the impressive results that have become the signature of the incumbent administration. Unlike the traditional practices in some Nigerian States, where deputies engage their bosses in wars of attrition, this self-confessed ardent student of Oshiomhole’s school of practical, developmental politics has stayed true and committed to his job description - never crossing the line of decency, nor engaging in any sterile personal pursuits. He is a team-player who believes that nothing good can come out of over ambition - out of a greedy overstretch that saps us of our humanity - vain pursuits that are as empty as they are worthless. It is this unity of purpose between these two men that have driven the groundbreaking feats the present administration has so far achieved - with more in obviously the offing.
RT Hon (Dr) Pius Egberanmwen Odubu has proven to be a pacesetter in his own right; one who has properly acquainted himself in every capacity he has been called to serve - both in the past and present. His highly impressive records are strewn everywhere for all perceptive minds to see: A distinguished academic vocation, a trailblazing legal profession, and a thriving political career that promises to spew out better things in the coming years. He is, indeed, a living legend; one whose glorious pedigree continues to inspire the present generation. Much more should be expected from this evolving colossus in the nearest future, truly speaking!

Odubu qualifies as a contemporary parallel of Alexander The Great, the mighty warrior-king of Ancient Greek; an astute political gladiator emeritus; an enigmatic champion whose life has read like a fairytale since the hands of the almighty thrust him into political prominence; a distinguished member of the army of change – one who has consistently raised the bar in every - academic, legal and political - station he has been privileged to occupy; one who has formed the habit of expanding on the initial achievements of his predecessors - no matter how Olympian - setting daunting precedents for future occupants of those stations. He is a man with the Midas touch – one of those rear species whose distinguished lives are marked by excellence; one with proven track-records of distinctions in past callings; somebody with a focused mindset; that individual who brings all the lessons garnered from past assignments to bear on new tasks.
Pius Odubu is a distinguished statesman in every sense of the word - a political giant in words and actions. Since becoming the deputy to, arguably, the greatest leader in the political history of Edo State - Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole - Odubu has shown like a million stars, transporting that exalted office to heights previously unknown, leaving fresh markers of distinction in his paths – mighty shoes for his predecessors to step into. He is a man whose loyalty has remained as constant and unassailable as the northern star; a man who has the added push of having effectively acquainted himself in his current station; a man of prodigious strength; one who religiously adheres to the principles of participatory democracy; a well versed strategist who understands the key strengths and weaknesses of opponents, and has continued bringing his eclectic knowledge of practical politics to bear in plotting effective battle strategies, whenever occasion demands – inputs that, in no small way, have helped in transforming the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) - now All Progressive Congress (APC) - into the powerful force of nature it has become in Edo state.
Odubu has redefined the word “comradeship” in his dealings with his political associates in conjunction with the ordinary members of his chief constituency – the good people of Edo State.
Since becoming the deputy governor of the state, he has stayed true to his oath of office – never derailing from its letters or spirit in the discharge of his core duties. In the several battles his party - the APC - has had to fight, since 2008, Odubu has proven to be a very reliable ally in the war with the opposition; proven to be a born warrior who is ever ready to do battle; a fearless Spartan trained in the art of warfare; a well-versed fighting machine always poised to take as much as he can give; a soldier-hero in words and deeds.
As a political leader, Odubu has proven to be a good listener; somebody whose ego does not restrict from accepting corrections; a down to earth individual who identifies with the people; one who sees public office as a privilege, and not a right; a man with a large amount of humility, and one who is driven by a high sense of altruism – a selfless disposition to governance; a sacrificial demeanour in every sense of the word; a team player of the patriotic kind; one who believes that collaboration is more productive than strife; an individual who does not see the business of governance as a one man show; a man who functions more effectively from within a group; an individual who gives up self for the greater good of the larger group; a synergy-builder, whose words and actions are directed towards the interest of the larger society; one who understands group dynamics, and uses it for bettering the lot of others.
Odubu is a man immensely imbued with a can-do spirit; a positive mental attitude; an iron-clad personality; somebody who is self-motivated to succeed in any endeavour, no matter how formidable. Just like his present boss, whose firm belief in the possibility of “change” has driven the ongoing transformations across the state, Odubu is blessed with an extravagant dose of faith; a man prepared to go the whole hog in the quest for success; one whose motto is that: “Without belief nothing worthwhile can be achieved”; “that all great feats are achieved by people with positive mindsets”; “that nothing can stop people of great faith from reaching their goals”. Odubu has consistently demonstrated what the right mental attitude can do for a people within the short space of time he has been in office.
He is a man with the will and sagacity to succeed; a man driven by an obsessive inclination to thrive; one who fears failure like a virus; a man with a watertight success habitude – an indefatigable spirit that has overcome all obstacles that have stood on his paths to success. Odubu talks, thinks, envisions, and lives success; a goal-getter with an unquenchable passion for excellence.
The life of Pius Egberanmwen Odubu has been defined by the lessons he has garnered from his past callings. The man, who has metamorphosed into one of the mightiest men of Edo politics - one of the conquerors of demagogy in Edo land - and one of the most brilliant political strategists to have transcended the state’s political landscape, picked up most of his shrewdness from those he has been privileged to work with over the years - individuals who saw his willingness to learn and sparred nothing in ensuring that he was properly prepared to step into their shoes. Odubu impressed his superiors by always coming out on top of every challenge that was thrown his way - an avid student as well as a loyal follower. On several occasions, when it seemed he would fail, he always found a way of emerging unscathed, scaling all the hurdles set before him, and confounding spectators, including his detractors, setting the precedents that have, so far, defined his glorious career - as a scholar, legal luminary and statesman.

Why Edo people de resemble themselves like this?

Because The Edos are special

Caseless:
Why Edo people de resemble themselves like this?

RT Hon (Dr) Pius Egberanmwen Odubu has proven to be a pacesetter in his own right; one who has properly acquainted himself in every capacity he has been called to serve - both in the past and present.

Really the most humble deputy ever