By: Douglas Ogbankwa Esq. (douglasogbankwa@gmail.com)
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, *”It is not the length of life that matters, but the depth of life.”* At 44, Right Honourable Dennis Idahosa, representing the good people of Ovia Federal Constituency, has already served as Commissioner for Investment in Edo State, been a two-time Member of the Federal House of Representatives, and is now the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the forthcoming Edo State gubernatorial elections.
Effervescent, soft-spoken, charismatic, and astute, Right Honourable Dennis Idahosa has made a lasting mark on Nigeria’s legislative history. He is known for his fervent populist advocacy in the House of Representatives.
Demonstrating legislative competence, he was appointed Chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Compliance, the enforcement arm of the Nigerian House of Representatives. During his last tenure in the House, he organized the only guided tour by any Member of the National Assembly to showcase the successes of constituency projects and the attraction of Federal Presence to his Constituency.
He also took a stand against the oppressive and extortionist Nigeria Customs checkpoint at Ekiadolor near Benin, leading to the appointment of a Benin native as Officer in Charge of the checkpoint for the first time. This resulted in the enforcement of due process in the activities at the checkpoint.
Currently, Right Honourable Dennis Idahosa serves as the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Health Services, further demonstrating his legislative dynamism.
During the All Progressives Congress primaries for Edo State, he showed great vigor and strategic acumen, daring to tread a road less travelled by contesting against many political heavyweights and giving an impressive account of himself. It was no surprise that he emerged as the Deputy Governorship Candidate of a major political party in the Edo 2024 gubernatorial elections, one of the most keenly contested elections in Nigeria.
Right Honourable Dennis Idahosa is an inspiration to the youth, proving that young people can be among the country’s leadership and not merely sidekicks.
As you celebrate your 44th birthday today, sir, we honour you for all that you stand for. We celebrate your resilience, your resoluteness, and your astuteness.
As the Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka once said, *”It is an honor to honor honour, and a greater honour to honour those who honour.”*
Happy Birthday, Your Excellency. Greater years lie ahead.
