A GOOD AMBASSADOR OF BENUE STATE
Benue State of Nigeria, a state created in 1976, is located in the North Central geo-political zone of the country is today governed by a Reverend gentleman, Hyacinth Alia as its sixth democratically elected governor.
The subject matter of this write-up is the exemplary conduct of the state’s deputy governor.
On the 29th of January, 2024 ,I was one of the passengers on the 6.50am Arik flight from Lagos to Abuja. As we filed on the queue at the foot of the aircraft to board the air plane, I noticed a flurry of activity around a man who was also on the line to board. Airline staff besieged him, asking him to leave the queue and go over to the front to be cleared to board. He declined all overtures to shunt the line .
Noteven his security aides could convince him . My investigation later revealed his identity as Samuel Ode, the current Deputy Governor of Benue State, a lawyer and former Minister of State,Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The other significant character traits of this man were exhibited on board when he went fully on his knees to exchange pleasantries with the newly appointed Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission and the Lagos Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Stephen Adegbite . After which he proceeded to take a seat in the economy class for the one hour trip to Abuja. Midway into the flight when the cabin crew called for any medical doctor on board to attend to a passenger in distress , I observed that this public servant, though not a medical practitioner, rushed to the back of the aircraft to respond to the emergency situation until the crew turned him back to his seat. I concluded in my mind that there is still hope for our country, Nigeria.
Funmilayo Oluwole, wrote this piece from Lagos, Nigeria.
