Thanksgiving Mass In Honour Of Late Barrister Patrick Sito Ideh In Delta State On 05/03/2022

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SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE THANKSGIVING MASS IN HONOUR OF LATE BARRISTER PATRICK SITO IDEH IN DELTA STATE ON THE 5TH OF MARCH, 2022

PROTOCOLS

As you know I am an adopted son of our dear father and patriarch of the Ideh family, Chief Patrick Emurode Sito Ideh, which is why I am here in my personal capacity as well as a representative of the Federal Government of Nigeria to pay our last respect to this great Nigerian leader. I also bring you all, especially the family, the warm felicitations of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari.

He was as a young man involved in the struggle for Nigeria’s independence; a member of the Zikist movement under the leadership of the great Zik of Africa, Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe, and he later joined the NCNC.

He was at the same time at the forefront of the struggle for the creation of the Midwest Region before going abroad to study law. He was a founding member of the Midwest State Movement where he served as assistant secretary and member of the working committee. Upon his return from the UK, he became the Assistant Legal Adviser to the Midwest Movement until the fruition of his dreams in 1963 when the Midwest Region was finally created.

Years later, Chief Ideh’s tenacity, extensive goodwill and contacts were needed in the struggle for the creation of Delta State. Now we have Delta State, a product of his commitment to his people.

During the Second Republic, Chief Ideh was elected member of the Federal House of Representatives where he represented the Ughelli Federal Constituency. In this position, he carried on his track record of service to the Urhobo people and Nigeria between 1979 and 1983.

He was always a progressive, believing solidly in the liberal social democratic ideals of that tendency, which meant that for years, he was faithfully and consistently in the opposition. He was at various times a member of the Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party in Delta State, and leader of the Alliance for Democracy in the State.

He was as early as 1961 called to the English Bar as a Barrister of Grays Inn, after having obtained a law degree from the prestigious University of Wales. He would need that for the various consequential cases he would argue through the years, including the defence of Justice Daniel Ikomi falsely accused of murder and he was also on the legal team of Chief MKO Abiola almost a decade later.

When we gather to commemorate the passing of a loved one, it is natural to feel a sense of loss and sadness. In the case of the man in whose name we are gathered today, Chief Patrick Emurode Sito Ideh, our grief is mitigated by gratitude and our sadness moderated by a sense of celebration of the life of a man who spent his life in the service to his people and his nation. Thus, we have not gathered here merely to celebrate the length of his days, but to honour the consistent quality of the man which has been demonstrated across the span of several decades.

If there is a single word that defines this great son of the Urhobo Kingdom and of Nigeria, it is as the Parish priest has said, a life of service. His life, laden with illustrious accomplishments of the highest order, was an elegant testament of his devotion to service. He earned his achievements through unflagging diligence.

Chief Ideh’s dedication to his people meant that for him, personal achievements were not enough.  He had the skills, the tenacity and the drive to have committed himself purely to his own enrichment and success, but he had the social conscience and moral intelligence that instead committed him to a much grander cause – that of the people of the Midwest Region, the people of this community and Nigeria at large.

Chief Ideh was a quintessential nationalist who never forgot his roots. It is no surprise therefore that here at home, he was a prophet with honour. The titles he held until his passing – as the Okpako-Orere of Otughievwen and the Ushota of Ughievwen Kingdom – attest to the recognition he gained at home as one of the most illustrious sons of Urhobo land.

Despite being well-rooted in his community, Chief Ideh remained very vested in the trajectory of his country and took on the mantle of Elder Statesman with the same dignity and grace that had defined his entire life. He was respected across partisan lines and in 2015, President Buhari and myself witnessed firsthand the breadth of the esteem in which he was held when he organized town hall meetings for us during the campaigns. His reputation was such that he drew on so many people to our cause despite party affiliations. People simply respected and accepted what he said and accepted us as well because of the man who presented us to them.

I had the privilege of having private audiences with him twice when he visited and, on both occasions, I was moved by how, despite his advanced age, Chief cared enough about the direction of our country to personally visit and offer his counsel. It was a kind gesture that I remain grateful for and for me yet again, those encounters offered an insight into the quality of the man. He was very forthright and you could see his only concern was about our nation, he never asked for anything for himself,

At the time of his passing, Chief Ideh was the oldest legal practitioner on the Supreme Court roll call in the South-South region.

Urhobo land, Delta State, and Nigeria have lost a towering figure and a true leader but we take solace in the rich example of service, fidelity to truth and justice, high patriotism and a strong social conscience that defined this notable leader.

Many, including myself who had the priceless advantage of his counsel, insights and great wisdom are proud to be called his proteges. His all-encompassing legacy also includes thousands whose lives he touched in various ways.

On behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, I extend sincere condolences to our mother, his dear wife and mother of his eight children, Olorogun Onajite, Lady Anne (Oniemo Ughievwen) and all the children.

The Lord will comfort you all, and may the memory of our father Chief Patrick Emurode Sito Ideh remain blessed forever.

Thank you and God bless you.