~Roseline O. Osunde,Esq*
One of the outstanding personalities that emerged at the dawn of the fourth Republic is Dr Samson Osagie. A Lawyer by training, a political personage and a towering Legislative figure within the political hemisphere of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
His outstanding contributions to Legislative activism from 1999 to 2015 remains a reference point and a benchmark for all those who have represented any part of Edo State in particular and Nigeria at large.
His dexterity in the practice of Law and represention of clients in the temple of justice and other legal transactions has been one with utmost fecundity. He is simply a multi disciplinary professional with an exceptional experience and record of performance.
In Edo State, he is regarded as one of the very few intelligentsia with exceptional capacity, ability and brilliance that grounds his competence in any assignment committed to his hands.
The last Governorship elections in Edo State saw him deploy exceptional grassroot mobilization strategies and scintillating delivery of campaign messages across the Edo South Senatorial District. For this, he has been widely applauded for his unwavering commitment, consistency and loyalty to the All Progressives Congress and its leadership in the State.
He it was, who was one of the insignificant few that warned in 2016 that an Obaseki administration in Edo State will be and unmitigated disaster. He led other compatriots like Hon Henry Idahagbon the Edo Progressives Movement(EPM) to resist the Obaseki’s government slide into dictatorship and failure. At that time, the movement was largely misunderstood and maligned as a morbid crowd of sore losers and hungry political gladiators.
Alas, they were justified with the ungodly trajectory of the administration.
Samson Osagie, holds a triple Master Degree in Law, Public Administration and International Relations and a Doctorate Degree in Political Economy.
With his impressive academic record, an enviable record of public service particularly in the Legislature and some stint in the executive coupled with his prowess in grassroots mobilization, the future beckons on him for further service to his fatherland. Although he narrowly lost the 2015 Senatorial Election as candidate of the All Progressives Congress, it is not in doubt that he has tremendous capacity for both Legal and Representative assignments.
As the clock ticks to end the regime of a most vicious government of our dear state, the likes of Dr Samson Osagie are needed to reset the steering of governance in our state so as to navigate the ship of state away from the drift the Obaseki government has taken it.
The need to get the incoming administration to fulfil the promises made to Edo people requires that only those tested to be performers and have the requisite knowledge, experience and compassion to serve are deployed to represent the state at every level.
As a new Edo is rising, the round pegs must be placed in the round holes!
*Roseline Osunde is a Lawyer and a Legislative Research Fellow.
