Edo 2020: The Enviable Profile of Pius Egberanmwen Odubu

Edo 2020: The Enviable Profile of Pius Egberanmwen Odubu

If there are motivational quotes that aptly interpret the levels of determination and readiness which Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu possesses to move Edo State to the next level, they are no doubt the ones that were credited to Archimedes. The three quotes are, “Give me a place to stand and I will move the earth.” “Give me but a firm spot on which to stand, and I shall move the earth,” and lastly, “Give me a place to stand, and a lever long enough, and I will move the world.”

 

Without any scintilla of hyperbole, when given the opportunity to fly Edo APC Ticket to Osadebey Avenue, the outcome of the general election scheduled to be conducted on Saturday, September 19, 2020 will have a profound bearing on the future of Edo State as he is destined to win, and Edolites can look forward to the possibility of moving the State to the next level, not rhetorically but in reality as he is a leader that pragmatically keys into the aforementioned quotes credited to Archimedes.



At this juncture, it is expedient to peep into the robust profile of Dr. Odubu by saying that he hails from Urhomehe in Urhonigbe North Ward, Orhionmwon Local Governrnent Area of Edo State, and has served Edolites; both at home and in diaspora in the capacity of a Deputy Governor of the State during Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led government on the platform of the Action Congress (AC) from November 2008 to November 2016 and Member, Federal House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007.

 

Odubu was born on July 1st 1957 and is happily married with children, and has attained enviable academic and professional heights which have placed him on the pedestal of seamlessly bringing solutions to bear in different spheres of leadership positions, and have helped him in exhibiting unsurpassed leadership style. The reason for being a man of value-based leadership per excellence cannot be farfetched as his thirst to drink from the proverbial fountain of knowledge has taken to the United States of America where he variously studied at Philandersmith College, Little Rock Arkansas,Southern University, Baton Rouge Louisiana, Southern University school of Law, Baton Rouge Louisiana and Georgetown University Law Centre, Washington D.C.

 

He holds a B.A. (Hons) in Political Science, Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree in Law, Master of Law in International and Comparative Law, he holds a Certificate from Harvard University: Kennedy School of Government, Certificate from Oxford University: Said Business School and is a recipient of several Honours and scholarship awards among which are: National Dean’s List (U.S.A), Member – Who is Who in American Universities.



His studiousness has no doubt earned him revered accolades as he was in May 1980 recognized as College Marshal (Best Student) at the College of Arts and humanities in Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.A. In the same vein, he was a member of Board of Editors at the Southern University Law Review, and was acknowledged to be the first non-American to hold such a lofty position.

 

In the same vein, Odubu was a member of the Southern University School of Law Moot Court Board, and invariably the first non-American to attain such membership position even as he was also the first non-American to be a Managing Editor at the Southern University Law Review. He also gained Certificate of Award and Merit from the Southern University School of Law Court Board and his efforts were no doubt acknowledged with icing on the cake in the form of a Certificate of Academic Excellence from Southern University. Not only that, he was awarded an academic Scholarship for all three years of the Juris Doctorate Programme. He was also a representative of Southern University Law School at the National Conference of Law Review in California, U.S.A., and back home; he is a proud awardee of the Certificate of honour from the Federal House of Representatives, Abuja. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in October 1986. Odubu is a member of the International Bar Association.

 

Dr Pius Odubu possesses an enviable and unblemished record of service to the people and country. His exemplary service sees him chairing many committees on the state’s developmental projects. For example, he was the Chairman of Edo state community Based Urban Development project; a world bank assisted project, he was the chairman of Edo state Technical committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, he was also the chairman on Sensitisation, Training and Implementation sub Committee on the National Cocoa Development Committee amongst others. In the APC 2019 Presidential elections, he was the Director of Logistic for President Muhammadu Buhari Presidential Campaign Council as well being the chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adamawa State Congress Committee in 2018.



Against the backdrop of the foregoing, there is no denying the fact that Odubu is a versatile, intelligent and knowledge-driven personality who has taken his search for knowledge to the United States of America. Without doubt, Odubu has ostensibly keyed into Kofi Anan’s philosophical quote that “Knowledge is power, information is liberating, and education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family”.

 

Odubu, the gentle giant radiates leadership par excellence, integrity, honesty, political maturity, dedication to service and astute credence and this has propelled him receive numerous awards. He was awarded the best Deputy Governor by Merit Media and the most outstanding Deputy Governor award by the Nigerian Union of Journalist, Edo State Council. And that is not all. He was the recipient of Meritorious Service Award from Organised Labour in Edo State, the recipient of Certificate of Excellence from the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Diocese of Benin, Edo State and he is the Grand Patron, Catholic Men Organisation, St. Paul Catholic Church, Benin City, Edo State.

 

There is no denying the fact that deciding which candidate to vote into office has overtime been revolving around party affiliation for many people. Others, however, cast their votes based on specific characteristics they look for in their candidate of choice. So what are the qualities or characteristics good political leader, such as Odubu, has as he is looking forward to secure the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship ticket for Edo 2020 election along with other party members like Engr Chris Ogiemwonyi,and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu among others?



To answer the riposte to the foregoing interrogation, it is expedient to say in this context that, first and foremost, Odubu is a leader that delivers quality “dividend of democracy” to the people, and has demonstrated it by being a kind of leader that looks in the mirror to make sure that what he promised, he delivers. The reason for his commendable reputation as one that does not disappoint his constituents is because he has often said that “consistently doing what you say you’re going to do is the foundation of integrity. He has often given reason on that aspect of integrity by saying “It is better to build a reputation on that than on winning an election and losing the permanent relationship that has been built around the people. He is body language has for the umpteenth times literarily spoke that “My goal has always been that my leadership legacy is one that over-delivers and inspires others to perform to their very best”.

 

The foregoing explains one of the enviable leadership traits that are inherent in his leadership disposition. Another virtue in his disposition is his predilection to forgive those that have offended him; irrespective of the magnanimity of the offence.

 

He no doubt exuded the virtue of forgiveness when those he sees as his friends, and who were in the same political camp with him in 2016 gang up against him to deny him his chance of succeeding the governor being the deputy governor at the time.



Added to his sense of forgiveness is the peaceful disposition which he recently reflected in dispelling public opinion that he was aggrieved over the unfair, unjust and inequitable depravities that have no doubt been trailing the build up to the primary and general elections in the state come 22nd June 2020 and 19th September 2020, respectively.

 

There is no iota of doubt that Odubu has unrivalled loyalty to his Party, APC. He has contributed significantly to APC. He provided leadership for Edo APC when there seemed to be none, he nurtured, grew and strengthened the party to what it is today.

 

In a statement released by his Campaign Organization, it said “Odubu remains committed to the party, both in the state and national levels, same way he is committed to the leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole anytime, any day.”

The statement further said, “Wherever Comrade Adams Oshiomhole remain, there Dr. Pius Odubu stand. No amount of blackmail will change his stance on the leadership of Edo state APC as led by Col. David Imuse and the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.



Odubu hardly needs any introduction to Edolites at the grassroots across the 192 political wards in the State as he is reputed to have massive supporters across the 192 wards. They not only recognize him as a down-to-earth grassroots politician, he is highly regarded as an experienced leader by virtue of the marks he has made as a legislature and deputy governor.

 

Since he was denied the opportunity of governing Edo State in 2016 by his very own colleague and friend, Edolites have been beckoning to him to bring his robust credentials and cognate experience to bear since he was once there as a deputy governor. The pressure has no doubt compelled him to throw his hat in the ring of Edo 2020 where he is excitedly expected by the people to compete with other aspirants such as Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and emerge as the Party’s candidate.

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