₦airaland Forum

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.

A TRIBUTE OF TRANSITION TO OUR LATE DAD, HONOURABLE CHIEF OBANDE ALPHONSUS ODEH
I have always known how to send condolences to people who have lost their parents but I have never known how it feels to lose one till now. Papa as fondly called by his children will never be seen again. Why? Indeed, we are yet to believe that the root we followed to this world has gone on the journey of no return to the great beyond because any time we visit where your body is laid, seeing your meek and gentle face like that of a new baby, it is hard for us to believe that you have left us and that your body is in preparation to be committed to mother-earth. I was spiritually motivated to write this tribute because of some reasons which include how visitors emotionally praised your virtues and mentioned good things about you.
Though I am a living witness to these virtues and qualities of my late father, but I will like to pinpoint some as mentioned by well-wishers, friends and colleagues during their condolence visits. My Dad’s humble lifestyle evolved right through his family life and decent upbringing; a habit that has accorded him the admiration of many people. Certainly, the exhibition of such simple way of life has earned him not only popularity but also respect and dignity amidst people. As a Teacher, he spent his entire life teaching people. He gave out his very best for the development of education and his people. In addition, he has helped many pupils and students enrolled in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary institutions. Those who benefitted from his magnanimity have already paid us condolence visits during which encomiums had been poured.
Until his death, he was one time a politician. His political sojourn started when he was a pioneer Councilor of old Irabi Council Ward of old Oju Local Government Area. His versatility earned him one of the most strategic portfolios at that time; as the Supervisory Councillor for Education, Health and Social Services. He told me how he contested and won. He also contested for a seat at the Benue State House of Assembly and gallantly won the election overwhelmingly. His contemporaries are Honourable Odeh Omirigbe, and Honourable Elias Ekpiri
Your competence as an intelligent Community and Traditional Leader was seen when you can take care of the tough stuff that may happen to you or the community. Your intelligence was beyond being smart to include high levels of both emotional and social intelligence. Your great interpersonal skills were brought to bear on how you interacted with other members of the community with ease. You had good communication and collaboration skills. We have greatly learnt from your ability to negotiate, mediate, listen to others, and articulate arguments and to work with members external to the community. I will not forget to add how dedicated and forward-thinking you were about the things that concern your community and the entire Igede Nation. You were a visionary leader, your constant thought about the future and setting of sustainable goals by developing your critical thinking skills and involving the younger generations was highly noted and commendable.
He has taught us more than simple about life. He showed us how to really fight and battle adversity and to never back down. He was a very generous man and always willing to help. He was also very wise and you could go to him with any problem. He taught us a lot about hard work, love for friends and family, appreciation for the outdoors and respect for others. He has no quest for worldly things and we the children have imbibed this in ourselves sincerely. He lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation that does not want to hurt anybody. He tried his best and ensured that he lived in peace with his relations, friends, family and the entire community.
Not only was our father gone, but a best friend, a mentor, and our hero. The person who I would come running out to and give breaking news to about politics is no longer there. He spent his last kobo including sacrificing some of his assets just to send us to school.
Papa, our minds still talk to you; our hearts still look for you. Our souls know you are at peace with your Maker for the truth you stood for in the Communities and Family while you were here in the physical body and with the testimonies we are receiving after your departure. We are happy for the life you have lived. On the other hand, we acknowledged your failings. We love you, and the most sincere way we know of expressing our love particularly in your absence is by learning from your mistakes and accepting the responsibility of not repeating them.
Even when we close our eyes, there is an image of your face. Dad, you are a loss that nothing can replace. I try not to wonder why you left us now; when you are about to reap the fruits of your years of labour, things were getting better. Dad why? Why did you do this to us? You hurt me particularly, so bad because all my dreams was to come back home with your name sake OBANDE, my son for this Christmas Holiday and you have even accepted and welcomed us in advance. You hurt me badly but I will always be proud to have you as a precious father even in death because you are a brave lion. You are indeed A HERO IN IKWOKWU, A LEGEND OF ITO, THE VOICE OF HIS PEOPLE, and A KING OF PEACE. We love you, we miss you. You will always remain in our heart till the end of time and I also know that one day even your enemies will remember you and say we lost a LEGEND ''HONOURABLE CHIEF OBANDE ALPONSUS ODEH'' We stand with tears in our hearts, but the Lord comforts us with thoughts of the life you have lived on earth. A life worthy of copy. I am consoled with the thoughts of you in heaven, singing halelluyah with the angels. We love you but God loves you most. The legacies you left with us is what made us what we are today and we promise to keep those legacies alive till our days elapse on earth. We have also promised to hold on to the very good ideologies and words of wisdom you have given us and never to let them die. Our people will find a new you in us. ADIEU DADDY, rest well till we meet to part no more.

EJEH OBANDE,
Son for the family.
15th December, 2018.

please the good people of Bauchi and his family should take heart. I don't know but my heart has been with him. Rest in peace to u sir. adieu

I want to challenge anybody who is not happy with the development strides of Okorocha and mention the name of his governor and we'll know if he's better. if every political leader can be embarking on projects like him even if its for personal engradizement Nigeria would have been better for it. Shout out to you the civilian general governor of our time. I'm out

Op, how else do you want them to go about getting the food. This is not news considering your intention for presentation except if it were to enlighten those who have not been to camp. I guess you have not yet served or serving but been sarcastic and making mockery of everything that come your way in the name of socialization and communicating on the social media but you have to be careful I must tell u.

if u have not seen this before and only liken it to the types of fuel stations in Benue then you're on a long thing. Pray u even have something like this in your village or else imagine how they'll be suffering right now. The topic is so misleading that you would think the whole of Benue is just dominated with this calibre of stations which is not true. Mind u Benue has never been inferior to her equals.

I just got a call from Etisalat and right from there she said I was on interview for call centre staff. Do they usually carry out their recruitments exercises in this manner and are they currently recruiting for this position. She went further to inform me that further communications will be through mail to tell me the outcome of the interview session. I'm not much in a doubt but if somebody in the house who works at etisalat or somebody who probably received same call as me can enlighten me more on the experience. Thanks.

no wonder Nigeria is this behind.

He just very unserious. what is he continuing when he said the government was doing nothing before. Let him bring up new ideas afresh

more pics

More pics
Grace weds Moses

Toast
To you my heart is given; oh, do give yours to me, we'll lock them up together And throw away the key

Bible Citation
May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
proverb 5:18

Coming Soon

7th November, 2015 by 10:00am at St. Patrick Police Catholic Church, Hotoro Kano. Reception @ Aunty Laila Private School, Tarauni Kano.

Fellow Naira land members, come and celebrate one of your own. Come one, come all. Thanks and God bless

its not a mean feet. congratulations ma. Gej doing us proud right from time. He had carefully selected u guys and gave u d necessary exposure. no wonder the appointments are coming. four of u from an administration that is so much facing blackmailing but d contrary is happening internationally. tnx God

Yanabee.

Non of your questions has an affirmative answer. In fact she is the one rather benefiting from me. I gave her a family project to handle but when she's to renovate the one housing my mum she complained money has finished. I stomach it and then allowed her son come stay with me and she did this to me again. I think its one too many for me. I have started reacting back. I called my dad to warn her to stay clear off me. she has succeeded in chasing me away from home now she shouldn't try me at my work place.

For about a year now I introduced my step sister to my boss when she came visiting and stayed for about a week. She came along with a friend of hers who doesn't know my boss but with a proper introduction I made them to even know better. They have met at a wedding reception unknowing to both of them. With this the bond of the relationship was further strengthened. The visitors were eager to even go visiting my boss all against her wish but she couldn't help. I was not very interested in the journey but they persisted and I have to put a call to my boss notifying her of the visit. It was an inconvenience for her but my visitors were eager to pay the visit thinking it was going to be another opportunity to sip some liquor. My boss knew I was forced into the journey because I hadn't time to go for such visits and so she was saying my visitors had made me know her place and I reluctantly said yes. She expressed her displeasure over the visit the next day at work but I have to explain to her and she understood.
To cut a long story short my sister started pushing hard on me for her son to come and stay with me and work in my organization and I told her for now no such vacancy but he can come up and look for work in other organizations while he stays with me and there's no place in my organization. Not knowing that my sisters mind is fixed at her son working in my organization, he came, go out to submit CV was an issue. At 8am he's still sleeping, I asked won't you be going out to submit CV, the reply was that MDA and parastatals usually open from 10am. I kept silent for a graduate who has graduated for about three years and he's looking for an immediate job to sustain himself was talking this? Because he didn't know the town he doesn't want to even make the attempt of gradually moving around the home. The next day the mother called me to complain why I shouldnt ask him to go out in search for a job. From then I now kept quiet to watch how events will unfold.
Suddenly one day I saw the boys CV on my madams table and I asked they said he brought it. I wasnt having issues with him bringing it without my notice but he couldn't even say hi or ask after me but on reaching home I didn't ask him until 4days after he apologised and begged that I should please assist him get the work even when the Madam reconfirmed to him that they was no vacancy. It became an issue two months after when he wasn't called for an interview. That I surpressd it even when I was ignored and the CV taken to my boss how would I have gotten d power. Whatever opinion they hold about me and how bad I am is been related direct to my boss. I'm not afraid of what they are saying and the consequences but what bad have I done in accepting to keep him in my house. A graduate who cannot go out to search for work. What are our graduates turning into nowadays that keep on blaming d govt and relatives for not getting them work.
please I need candid advice on this issue and I'm ready to also accept my fault if I have. thank you all for the patience u have in reading this

Op your points are good and nicely pointed out but I have a question to ask. What if our/your parent(s) hold this types of opinions would u have come to this world. Let's not be blindly ruled by modernity and civilization and forget d real purposes of live. Pride has not taken anybody anywhere. Marriage is surely a safe place for women to gain their maximum respect and you mean women shouldn't work towards attaining it. just d way we pay tithe for God's blessings on our handwork so should we sow seeds for a good life partner. A word is enough for d wise

some of una no d understand anything. Metuh didn't say pmb is not corrupt at all but that he's not yet corrupt in this democracy. D msg is so very clear. some of this very corrupt people are claiming to holier than thou in a new party. just a reminder from PDP

So what were they doing. Leadership is about staff of office. what a rare blessing to be blessed in that way. the fact is that both r receiving blessings but that with d sword is of a higher order.

Hello. Those that were sent the msg can u please clear d air on whether u were sent the mail on quality of life in Nigeria. one or two of u can help clear this. its very necessary and urgent. thanks

From what one is seen it seems that most people who received the Q life survey from Pcl will be the successful ones. Same thing happened to me during service year. Questionnaire are usually taken from respected people whom u trust can give u the right info. Second reason for guessing this is that during the invite for the test I was contacted but here comes this time that they have made themselves able to reach me. pls hit or drop your opinion

op y not post this pix with a title that is meant to serve as a lesson. u are misleading people and painting your country bad cos most of this pix are not from Nigeria. For example the pix of the young boy about to stab the old man not wearing any cloth is from Central African Republic. People will now think Nigeria is at war.

Hbd to His Excellency the President of the federal republic of Nigeria. Today na your day do shakara if them tire them go fall yakata. Llpnp in Jesus name. Amen.

congratulations to Mr President. Happy declaration. Declaration for good governance, liberation and peace in the land. Thank you

cooking for d guy is a big deal but d guy been in charge of her responsibility is good so as to know whether d guy is capable of taking care of his family responsibility. there is God o. what is good for d goose is good for d gander.

good wish but how many times u go wish d abokis safe journey from hajj. campaign tyns on ur mind

brownlord: Damn all of them in that so called CNBC, with the kind of intolerance they practice they are worst than boko haram and other enemies of this country, A suppose religious group that won't allow someone else lead them, they pulled out of CAN because someone else Is the president and will return when a Catholic head it right? Why have they not pull out of catholic faith with the drug scandal rocking the Vatican city?


Bloody hypocrites

some of you can't mind ursef. The Catholic Bishop are bigger than what you think. it is just a coincidence that their synod meeting take place now of pastor Ago. their meeting are period. hope u understand

there are many signs of greenlight from ladies. among them are 1. Pay attention to d guy as he talks 2. always around d guy. 3. creating a topic for discussion. 4. picking d guy's item so dat a conversation can commence. 5. buying a gift no matter how small. 6. short call or msg. 7. request you to buy sth for her among so many others.

Can anyone be kind enough to guide on how to lease a property out? The same property is also available for rent. The property is at makurdi for any interested. Pls ur advice too.

very inspiring indeed. Anyone who follow dis advice has jst got it rite

na wao.woman dignity no more

dats serious

dis is serious o wat r we turn our dear country n world to. evildoers beta stop God we soon catch up wit u o