History and Biography of Samuel Ogbemudia

 
##Early Life and Education
Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia was born on 17 September 1932 in Benin City. Named after his grandfather, his surname, Ogbemudia, in the Edo language, signifies "this family has come to stay."

As a young boy, he lived with his elder cousin, F.S. Uwaifo. His early education began at Benin Baptist School (1941–1945) and later at Government School, Victoria, in the Cameroons (1945–1947). He then attended Western Boys' High School, Benin City (1947–1949).

##Military Career
Ogbemudia joined the Nigerian Army in 1956, receiving training at Teshie, Ghana, and in England at Netheravon and Salisbury Plain (1957). He furthered his military education at:

Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot, England (1960), earning a commission as a Second Lieutenant in 1961.

U.S. Army Special Warfare School, Fort Bragg, North Carolina (1962).


His military service included:

UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Congo (16 months).

Service in Tanzania (1964).

Instructor at the Nigerian Military School, Zaria (1964).

Role in the 1966 Nigerian Coup and Counter-Coup


In January 1966, a military coup overthrew Nigeria’s civilian government. By July 1966, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi was deposed and killed in a counter-coup led by Lieutenant Colonel Murtala Mohammed.

At the time, Ogbemudia was Brigade Major of the 1st Brigade in Kaduna and played a key role by disarming his troops under the suggestion of Lt-Colonel Alex Madiebo. An assassination attempt on Ogbemudia’s life was made by Lt. Buka Suka Dimka, but he escaped due to a tip from Colonel Hassan Katsina and Major Abba Kyari.

By August 1966, he was transferred to Benin City as Quartermaster-General, 4th Area Command.

##Biafran Invasion and Liberation of Mid-Western Region
On 9 August 1967, Biafran troops, led by Victor Banjo, invaded Mid-Western Nigeria and took Benin City with minimal resistance. While some officers collaborated with the invasion, Ogbemudia went underground, forming a resistance movement.

He later joined Murtala Mohammed's 2nd Infantry Division on a mission to reclaim the region. On 20 September 1967, Ogbemudia led troops that seized Benin City from Biafran forces.

##Governor of Mid-West/Bendel State (1967–1975)
Following the liberation of the Mid-West region, Ogbemudia was appointed Military Governor on 26 October 1967. Promoted to Lt. Colonel, he embarked on numerous development projects, including:

Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium (formerly Ogbe Stadium).

National Museum, Benin City (commissioned in 1973).

Agbede Mechanized Farm.

Bendel Steel Structures.

Bendel Pharmaceuticals and Boatyard.

University of Benin and Bendel Line.

Rural Electrification Board.

His administration was remembered as a period of rapid development, which later administrations struggled to match.

Key figures in his cabinet included:

Edwin Clark

Frank Oputa-Otutu

T.E.A. Salubi

Lawrence Leo Borha

##Retirement and Dismissal from the Military
In July 1975, when Murtala Mohammed became Head of State, he dismissed all 12 military governors who had served under Yakubu Gowon.

Ogbemudia was later investigated for corrupt enrichment, and though he claimed the panel was biased, he was found guilty. However, during the Second Republic, the Bendel State House of Assembly cleared him of any wrongdoing.

At the time of the 1975 coup, Ogbemudia was in London, assisting with renovations for Yakubu Gowon’s residence.

##Return to Civilian Politics: Governor of Bendel State (1983)
Ogbemudia made a political comeback in October 1983 as an elected governor of Bendel State under the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). However, his tenure was short-lived—he was removed in December 1983 after General Muhammadu Buhari overthrew the civilian government of Shehu Shagari.

##Public Service and National Appointments
Between 1987 and 1989, he served as Chairman of the Nigerian Sports Commission. In 1989, President Ibrahim Babangida appointed him Sole Administrator of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). During his tenure, the NRC’s operations and finances improved before his departure in 1992.

Under General Sani Abacha’s regime (1993–1998), he was appointed Minister for Labor and Productivity. Ogbemudia was a strong supporter of Abacha, advocating for him to continue in power.

##Fourth Republic and Political Influence (1999–2009)
With the return to democracy in 1999, Ogbemudia co-founded the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State and became a Board of Trustees member. Alongside Chief Anthony Anenih, he controlled Edo State PDP politics for nearly a decade.

By 2004, Ogbemudia agreed to let Anenih nominate the next Edo State governor but later clashed with him over zoning policies.

In 2006, he supported Dr. Mohammed Buba Marwa’s presidential bid.

In March 2008, a tribunal nullified Oserheimen Osunbor’s (PDP) governorship, declaring Adams Oshiomhole (Action Congress) the rightful winner. Though a PDP loyalist, Ogbemudia acknowledged Oshiomhole’s strong leadership.

In 2009, he led a PDP faction supporting Prof. Julius Ihonvbere for Edo State governorship (2011) against Senator Odion Ugbesia, favored by Anenih. That same year, he skipped a PDP unity rally and later praised Oshiomhole’s administration, fueling speculation about a possible alliance.

##Death and Legacy
On 9 March 2017, Ogbemudia’s son, Sam Ogbemudia Jr., announced his father’s passing. He died the previous day at a private hospital in Lagos at the age of 84.

His legacy includes:

Contributions to Edo and Delta State development.

Establishing the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

A transformative tenure as Military Governor of Mid-West/Bendel State.

Samuel Ogbemudia remains one of Nigeria’s most impactful military leaders and politicians.