* Ogbemudia 
Two-time governor of defunct Bendel State - respectively in military and civil dispensations -  Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia has joined other Edo and Nigerians mourning the late Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa.

 Ogbemudia told theledgerng.com that  he is proud of the Benin culture which made him to clean shave his head to mourn the late Benin Monarch, Oba Erediauwa.

 The former governor said Oba Erediauwa had a lot to offer the country and he (Erediauwa) indeed offered his best.

 He disclosed that the late Oba was very supportive when her served as governor of old Bendel

 He said, "We all respect the late Oba. I saw him many times and I discussed with him many times because he is the first Oba in modern times to be a graduate. He had a lot to offer and he did offer. Whenever you went there to discuss with him, unless you are properly prepared, he will defeat you."

 "It was a sad moment for everyone most importantly myself because I knew the Oba since he was a Prince. Before I joined the Oba, he was well known to me. After I joined the military and I was appointed Military Governor of Midwest State, by that position, I was a member of the Supreme Military Council and Oba Erediauwa at that point in time was the Secretary of that council."

 "Every time the council met, I was very happy to see him. Each time I have any complain, I go quietly to his house to see him and he was very helpful. A little after the Supreme Military Council, he was promoted to Permanent Secretary. At the position, he was very useful to me when we were working on how to establish the Medical Centre, Benin which later became the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. He even made a grant to us. When he retired, he became Commissioner in the government that succeeded my own as Commissioner for Economic Develoment. Thereafter, he was installed as the Oba of Benin Kingdom."

 "I realized that this world we are in is a market and after doing all you want in the market you must return home. So it was inevitable and it is debt we all owe but that does not mean I am not sad. I am very unhappy."

 "The most memorable was in 1966 when the first coup occurred. The Federal Government set up a committee to look into the problems and the meeting was to be held in Kaduna. At that point in time, I was the Brigade Major of the first Brigade of the Nigerian Army and I had a role to play. When he came to Kaduna, he told me he was appointed as the Secretary of the committee to look into the Military civilian unrest. I saw him in the evening but we never met again because that night another group struck and we all had to find our away. I was later posted to Benin"