Remembering late Chief Edward Gbagbeke Sido: The Otota of Udu Kingdom

Ochuko Tonukari

To live in the age of giants and tower above them is indeed a claim to greatness: one that seldom bedecks the history of mankind.

The late Chief Edward Gbagbeke Sido, the Otota of Udu Kingdom was among those who were specially favoured from birth. Some people, as often said, in life achieve greatness through hard work; some have it bestowed on them, while some others are simply born great.

Sido, who bade the world final farewell on Thursday April 4, 2006, was incontrovertibly a rare combination of aristocracy and intellectual prowess.

Born on November 8, 1914 at Ovwian, in Udu Local Government, Urhobo Division at that time, and now Udu Local Government Council, Pa Sido, lived his life as an erudite lawyer, a social entrepreneur, an educationist, visionary leader, an innovator and a change agent.

Pa Sido was a thorough family man with a great sense of humour. He lived his life bringing succour to all that came around him with heart lifting and positive words.

In 1959, he enrolled in the Inns of Court Middle Temple, attended Holborn College of Law in London and graduated Barrister at Law on November 18, 1963 after passing the Council of Legal Education final examination in London.

In 1963, he returned to Nigeria and attended the Nigerian Law School s in Lagos and graduated as a Nigerian Lawyer in April 1964.

He was employed by the then Bendel State Government of Nigeria as a Magistrate in 1976, nominated by Ethiope Local Government Council, Orerokpe to attend Nigeria Economic Welfare Services Limited in 1977 but later resigned as Magistrate in 1978 to return to his law practice.

Pa Sido was instrumental in the establishment of Udu Kingdom and the creation of the Udu Local Government Council. He was the chairman of Udu Council of Chiefs which was responsible for the appointment of Ovie of Udu, a member of Udu traditional Council and also the Vice chairman to the Ovie as well.

His leadership traits and the zeal to effectively educate the people of his environs made him establish the first secondary institution to be opened in Warri- Sido Commercial Institute in 1942, which was integrated with the Kagho College of Commerce to form the United College of Commerce Warri. He also later opened the Sido Preparatory Day School, which in about three occasions won the trophy being competed for by all schools in Warri.

During Tafawa Balewa administration, Pa Sido was twice elected to serve in Warri Urban District Council, and was at the same time appointed a member of Income Tax Revenue Appeal Court in Lagos. He was also appointed a member of the Bendel Scholarship Board.

For six years, between 1981 to 1987, he was the President General of Ovwian Community, the body which always play a vital part in the development of Ovwian. Pa Sido was also instrumental to the establishment of the Delta State Steel Company (D.S.C.) at Ovwian and also the Niger Benue Transport Company Limited at Ovwian. These two companies have played vital roles in the economic life of the Udu people.

He was a philanthropist and business magnate with concerns in various sectors of the economy. A Community leader par excellence who believed in rule of law and democratic institutions, twice in his life he resigned his appointment when the Military took over the reins of government, for his belief that the art of governance should be left for those who know how best to impact effective leadership on the society.

Throughout his lifetime, Pa Sido lived a life worthy of emulation as he worked relentlessly to live by his belief about leadership that: "Good leaders are made not born'. If you have the desire and willpower, you can become an effective leader." He also lived to the belief that Leadership is a process by which a person influences others to accomplish an objective and direct the organization in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent and create social and economic value

As St. Christopher once remarked, 'If you doubt my ability, behold my works.' The fame and success of Pa Sido's Children, Grand Children and Great Grand Children are reassuring testimony to his greatness.

With these remarkable imprints and achievements, his name, no doubt, will be etched in gold in the annals of his people, community and the Nation at large.