By steve anyebe.
His Royal Majesty Chief Dr Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji John, Och’Idoma Agabaidu V and Paramount Ruler of the Idoma Kingdom of North Central Nigeria, has frowned at the attitude of his subjects of not heeding his advice to channel their God given resources into philanthropic ventures.
The Deeper Life Pastor turned traditional ruler expressed his feelings while pouring encomium on Chief Godwin Odumu Obla, SAN, during the recent 3rd Matriculation Ceremony of the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo(FUHSO) at the expansive GRA Campus of the Institution.
Agabaidu Elaigwu Odogbo, who rendered a long session of prayers over Chief Godwin Obla, did not hide his dismay that the first son of Idomaland to attain the esteemed status of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, appeared to have been left alone to shoulder so much of the responsibilities of the society.
“I recall that towards the end of 2022 I was invited to the commissioning of two beautiful buildings in the premises of the Benue State Judiciary here in Otukpo, built, furnished and donated by my son, Chief Godwin Obla. I was very happy then and I prayed that God should bless him. I also called on my other children to emulate him.
Then in April this year I was invited to the Teaching Hospital for the inauguration of the very modern Judith Ogwa Obla Memorial Kidney Centre. I discovered that it is the same Chief Godwin Obla again, who built it, equipped and furnished it fully, and again donated it to FUHSO. I was very happy but at the same time I felt sad, because I expected to hear that it was the work of another Idoma son. I blessed Chief Obla again at the Hospital premises and also again advised other Idomas to borrow a leaf from our SAN”, the Paramount Ruler narrated.
Not done with expressing his surprise, he went on:
“I have also learnt that Chief Obla has given Forty Million Naira to FUHSO as prizes for graduating students, built a hostel in Wesley High School, and is renovating three laboratories in St Francis College, Otukpo, among other projects. Are my other children trying to say that it is only Godwin Obla that God has blessed with money? Anyway, all I will tell my Idoma sons and daughters now is that anyone who wants to be blessed, like God will continue to bless Chief Obla, then let such a person behave like him”.
The Vice Chancellor of FUHSO, Prof Innocent AO Ujah, mni, OON, in his remarks also joined Agabaidu Och’Idoma in calling on other Idoma well-to-dos to emulate Chief Godwin Obla to make contributions to the growth of the first ever Federal Government established University of Medical Sciences, and graciously located in Otukpo.
Chief Godwin Obla, who delivered the Matriculation Lecture titled *”MAKING YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE “* appreciated all the positive remarks about him, especially the prayers by HRM Agabaidu Elaigwu Odogbo. He said he could find no better way of thanking God for His divine blessings other than to give back to the society as much as he could.