34 years on, Obaseki settles late Ambrose Alli’s benefits
By Titus Akhigbe
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has settled the benefits and gratuity of the first civilian governor of defunct Bendel State, the late Professor Ambrose Alli –34 years after his demise.
Alli’s tenure as Governor of the old Bendel State (now Edo and Delta States) was during the Second Republic (1979-1983). He won election on the platform of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) which was founded and led by the now-late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Alli, however, failed to win re-election in 1983, losing, in controversial circumstances to governorship candidate of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia.
That tenure lasted merely three months before Major General Muhammadu Buhari ended the Second Republic in a military coup which brought him to power.
The regime proceeded to slam many charges against several political leaders at the time, clamping them in prison, some with hundreds of years’ jail term –an act loudly decried by both Nigerians and the international community.
Born September 22, 1929, Alli, a renowned Professor of Morbid Anatomy, died on September 22, 1989.
Speaking yesterday during the celebration of the award of ‘Most Pension-Friendly Governor in Nigeria’, bestowed on him by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Obaseki said the late Alli deserved the payment of the entitlement overhung.
Speaking on Alli’s commitment to the well-being of pensioners in the State by ensuring that their benefits, including outstanding pensions and gratuity, were paid regularly, Obaseki revealed how the unpaid benefits of the former Governor were settled last week by the state government.
According to Obaseki, “Last Saturday (August 19, 2023), the widow of former Governor of Edo State, late Prof. Ambrose Ali, turned 80 years in Birmingham, United Kingdom. He had made a lot of sacrifices for us as a State.
“We decided to celebrate with her and I asked one of the children what he thinks is an appropriate present for her mother. He said ‘just do her the honour of paying my father’s benefits while in office’.
”Then I said, ‘you mean Prof. Alli’s benefits are not paid?’ He said ‘yes’. We went into the records, prepared the cheque and took it to her in England. This is to tell you where we are coming from. I’m glad we remembered him.”
Governor Obaseki was represented by his wife, Betsy, at the 80th birthday celebration of the late governor’s widow, Chief (Mrs.) Rosemary Alli-Walker.
Speaking during the event, the Edo State First Lady recognized the enduring impact of Alli’s tenure as governor, noting that the policies and programmes implemented during his leadership, notably in education, urban and rural development and healthcare, have continued to shape Edo State’s progress.
She said the former governor and his wife occupy a special place in the hearts of Edo people, resonating with the attendees, who had gathered to honour Alli-Walker.
Mrs. Obaseki also lauded her commitment to values such as hard work, diligence, and forthrightness, adding that these values, which she upheld during her tenure as First Lady, continue to inspire the state’s ongoing reforms across various sectors of the economy.
Responding to the felicitation, the celebrant expressed gratitude to the First Lady for travelling all the way from Nigeria to join in her celebration.
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She pledged to support free surgeries for children with cleft lips, an initiative named ‘Operation Smile’.
It would be recalled that Gov. Obaseki had, in 2018, sought and obtained a posthumous presidential pardon for late Gov. Ambrose Alli; a request that was ratified by the Council of State in 2020.
