Born in Benin City in the then Midwest region, but now Edo State, on November 23, 1964, to the family of Dr. and Mrs. Edwin E. Ogidi-Gbegbaje of Ekpan in Uvwie Local Council of Delta State, Ogidi-Gbegbaje joined the service in 1989 in the then Bendel State.
In honour of the retired top civil servant, Deltans from all walks of life gathered recently at the popular Dome Event Centre on Okpanam Road in the state capital, Asaba, to bid him farewell from active service.
The state-owned biggest event centre in Asaba had never witnessed such a huge crowd of personalities, particularly in honour of a retiring civil servant since the creation of the state in 1991 by former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
In attendance were gospel singers, organised youth bodies, civil servants and kinsmen from his native Uvwie community, who danced and chanted round the major streets of Asaba in honour of the retiring homeboy.
Among the eminent personalities were Governor Sheriff Oborevwori; his predecessor, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa; former and serving commissioners, senators, House of Representatives members, state lawmakers, local government chief executives, traditional rulers, high chiefs, serving and retired permanent secretaries, journalists, bank executives and other distinguished guests from far and near.
For the serving and retired permanent secretaries, the gathering presented a perfect opportunity to pump hands and reminisce on the good old times.
In line with the old adage that the early bird catches the worms, some guests, especially his gaily dressed kinsmen from Uvwie, started arriving at the venue about 8am in order to sit at vantage positions for the programme slated for noon. At 12:36pm, Ogidi-Gbegbaje alighted from a white coloured Lexus 3.50 Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and was received by an ecstatic crowd, led by Mr. Victor Udi, a serving Permanent Secretary, and Lucky Nkemachor, the Director of Administration, Government House.
Back in 2010 when he was elevated to the position of Permanent Secretary, many civil servants did not see it as any big deal, since he was like others who have come and gone, especially as not much was known about his antecedent and civil service exposure. A few who chose to give him the benefit of the doubt saw him as a new breed permanent secretary and nothing more.
Barely a few months after his appointment, Ogidi-Gbegbaje proved naysayers wrong, as due to his dynamic leadership style, he quickly became a household name throughout the state.
Ever ready to reach out to those in need, he paid the school fees of indigent children both in cities and far away villages. Also, those who owed house rents or hospital bills that beckoned on him for rescue were not disappointed at the end. Widows, youths, the unemployed and civil servants who had one challenge or the other gave testimonies of how he touched their lives.
Oborevwori described the retired permanent secretary as a rare administrator who was very dedicated to his duty while in the service, noting that his retirement would no doubt create a vacuum in the system.
He recalled: “Eddy was very hardworking, very sincere and punctual to work. I will be missing him as the governor of the state, because he worked directly under me. We had a good understanding with each other.
“From what people have said about him, it is clear that his services will still be needed. I did not know he is a graduate of Political Science until recently because of his leadership qualities. When the retiring permanent secretary said oga, oga repeatedly, he was indirectly telling me that something was wrong.”
The member representing Oshimili South State Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Bridget Ayanfulu, described Ogidi-Gbegbaje as a man of so many features and prospects, stressing that his role as permanent secretary, Government House and Protocol affected a lot of people positively.
She added: “Eddy knew and mastered the terrain very well ahead of most of his contemporaries. A pointer to this is the fact that while in the service, he was completely detribalised in his choice of friends.”
She said Ogidi-Gbegbaje’s solid personal achievements were intimidating, competent and dependable, noting that he was trustworthy and most importantly, very hardworking.
She continued: “He was an all-round fellow as permanent secretary, Government House and Protocol. Eddy proved to be the engine room of the Government House. He mastered the role of a team player with the requisite ability to galvanise both civil servants and politicians.
“He was quite tolerant and had the capacity to absorb. My encounter with the retiring permanent secretary has shown that he is a good listener who understands other people’s feelings. He had the ability and doggedness to wave through rough roads, no matter who were against him.
“Eddy is leaving behind a very beautiful record in the state civil service. His record should be seen as a challenge to other civil servants, particularly the permanent secretaries.”
Former chairman of Delta State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Norbert Chiazor, said Ogidi-Gbegbaje abhors failure, set his goals and ensured that they were accomplished.
Chiazor said: “He is jovial and quite amiable. Eddy exemplified what genuine service to the state meant. His hard work was quite motivational; Eddy is a dependable and very sincere fellow. He had the strength to work and the dedication was there beyond the strength; he is an all-round fellow.
“Eddy talks to you with feelings. He is worth celebrating. We are gathered here today to celebrate this rare administrator who has made a mark in the state civil service.”
Ogidi-Gbegbaje had his elementary education at Emotan Nursery and Primary School, Benin City, before proceeding to the prestigious Edo College, also in Benin City.
He got admission into the University of Jos, Plateau State, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science in 1985. He also has a Masters degree in Industrial and Labour Relations (MILR) from the Delta State University; Abraka, in 2008 and has attended several management courses within and outside Nigeria.
Just like his parents who were both accomplished public servants, Ogidi-Gbegbaje joined the defunct Bendel State Civil Service on January 3, 1989, as an Administrative Officer. He rose through the ranks in his career and by dint of diligence and commitment to duty, was appointed permanent secretary in the Delta State Civil Service on September 1, 2010.
Going by the reception and testimonies of his bosses, friends, mates, acquaintances and colleagues while in active service, it would not be an understatement to say that not a few Deltans would feel the impact of the exit of Sir Ogidi-Gbegbaje from the service.
• Agbanigbe writes from Asaba
