AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF LATE CHIEF (DR.) EDWIN IDOKO OBE.
A Greek saying reveals that the bell tolls three times in a man’s life – at his birth, at his wedding and at his funeral.The bells are tolled for the last time for Chief Doctor Edwin Idoko Obe, a man who stood like a colossus over the entire Idoma all his life on the 5th of march,2013.
BIRTH AND EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICACTIONS Chief (Dr) Edwin Idoko Obe was born at Owukpa on the 3rd of April 1937 into the family of late Joseph Obe Onyeke of Okpudu, Airoga, Itabono, Owukpa and late Odachi Obe nee Ameh Egwomba from Oko in Orokam, all in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The young Idoko Obe relocated to Otukpo with his parents and siblings, his father, a trader, ensured he had very good education. He started his educational pursuits at the Methodist Central School, Otukpo between 1942 and 1949.
After a successful completion of his primary education, he gained admission into the famous Government College, Keffi in 1950 and graduated in 1955 with Division One.
With this great feat, the young Idoko Obe advanced to Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria and obtained G.C.E. ‘A’ levels in flying colours. Thereafter, he was admitted into the prestigious University College, Ibadan in 1958 and obtained a degree in medicine, MBBS(Lond), which made him the first Idoma and indeed Benue indigene to graduate as a Medical Doctor.
INSPIRATION
His choice of medicine was borne out of a treatment melted him as a little boy by a local dispenser in Otukpo. According to the story which Doctor Obe fondly recounts during his life-time, he was scared of taking injection and had to be slapped by the dispenser For him to take the treatment. This incident registered in his mind and he promised to become a medical practitioner who would cater for his patients especially scared children with kindness and compassion.
This pledge became a focal point throughout his career as a medical practitioner. It was his nature to show extra care and love to his patients and in fact every one he had contact with. This also led to his nick-name ‘Ikpoyi-ere’ which meant minor fever, a phrase he used in assuaging the fears of his patients, many of whom acknowledged that it worked like magic for them.
WORK AND MEDICAL PRACTICE Doctor Edwin Idoko Obe, a fellow of the West African College of Physicians and a Nuffield Foundation Scholar, after graduation as a Medical Doctor worked in several places. He did his mandatory housemanship at General Hospital, Lagos between 1963 and 1964 and his residency at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Surulere between November 1964 and 1965.
He was thereafter engaged by the then Northern Nigerian and posted as Medical officer in-charge of General Hospital, Zaria in 1966. He was later posted to General Hospital, Otukpo in the same capacity. In January 1969, Doctor Edwin Idoko Obe, a man known for his adventurous nature, ventured into what was described as a purely novel and humanitarian gesture by establishing the Famous Salem Hospital in Otukpo. The private hospital was the first of its kind in the entire North Central zone of Nigeria at that time.
The hospital was established in order to create alternative medical source for the civilian population since the General Hospitals at Otukpo, Makurdi and Idah were taken over by the military as a result of the civil war. The 120 bed space Salem Hospital is still operating till date and has recently established an IVF centre to meet the needs of families with challenges of child bearing.
LEADERSHIP AND SPORTS Chief Doctor Edwin Idoko Obe was not just a medical practitioner but a leader and a man of the people whose involvement in any sphere was always outstanding. In school at Government College KefFi, he was Katsina Ala House Prefect and facilitated the introduction of the Nigerian Red Cross society. He was also a distinguished sportsman who represented the then Northern Nigeria and contested in the Huxley Shield Boxing competition in 1955 as well as athletics at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria in 1958. Doctor Idoko Obe’s love for sports also led him to establish the then famous Obe Babes Football Club and Salem Trotters Basketball Club all in Otukpo.
POLITCICS On the political scene, Doctor Edwin Idoko Obe contested for the then Benue Central Senatorial seat in 1979 and the Governorship elections in 1983 as deputy to Chief Paul Unongo.
POSITIONS He was once Chairman, Benue Plateau Bus Service; Chairman. Benue State Civil Service Commission between April 1976 and November 1977. Doctor Idoko Obe was the pioneer chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Benue Plateau State branch and the first chairman of the Association when Benue State was created. He was also a one time National Vice Chairman of the Association and the pioneer Chairman of the Board of Directors of Madonna Hospital Makurdi.
HUMANITARIAN WORKS As a philanthropist, Doctor Obe was well known for his love and care for his community. He single-handedly constructed roads in Owukpa and a bridge at Okpudu. He also built a Secondary school with fully equipped laboratories which he also donated to the Owukpa Community. He built a Methodist Church for his people at Okpudu-Owukpa. He built the new residence for the Methodist Bishop of Otukpo as well as opened files in his hospital for free treatment of all Ministers of God in Otukpo for over fifteen years. Between 1974 and 1981, all Idoma students in Secondary Schools within Idoma land who attended Salem Hospital were also treated free of charge. In addition to these feats, Doctor Obe constantly wrote-off medical bills for the less privileged as well as offer other assistance to many who came to seek help from him. Between 1975 and 1982, he paid school fees for indigent school children
TITLES AND AWARDS It was for his philanthropic gestures that he was bestowed the Odejo of Ai-Aroga in 1981 and Odejo of Owukpa in 1984. He was appointed as an adviser to the Idoma Traditional Council in 1985 and was bestowed Osonyeta 1of Idoma by the Council in 1994. Doctor Edwin Idoko Obe, due to his numerous contributions to Nigeria as a whole and Benue State in particular was awarded several honorary titles. Among them is a Doctor of Science Degree by the Benue State University, Makurdi; Fellow, Institute of Administrative Management of Nigeria, FIAMN and Certified Distinct Administrator, CDA, by the Institute of Administrative Management of Nigeria in 1992. He was also awarded the National Honour of the Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
TRAVELS He has visited Israel, England, Scotland, Ireland, USA, Canada, France, Italy, Cameroon and host of others.
BELIEF AND QUOTES Chief, Doctor Edwin Idoko Obe has always seen the world as a temporary place and believed that the greatest investment in life is to invest in another person’s child outside your own. Even then God blessed him with many children who he ensured got the best education and foundation. As the final bells toll for Chief Doctor Edwin Idoko Obe who passed into another era on the fifth of March 2013, the entire Idoma nation mourns for a man who took time and made every effort to apply the rich and wonderful promises God gave him to the benefit of his people.””ït is very nice to be important to your people but it is more important to be nice to them. :””when you are able to meet your brothers need, you feel fulfill and you also have peace. Since I came to this world, I have never seen anyone buried with houses, money and properties, so, is useless seeing people suffer for the sake of keeping wealth.
We all know that when the trumpet would sound, Chief Doctor Edwin Idoko Obe will be among Christians that would be raised with transformed bodies as proclaimed by Apostle Paul in first Corinthians 15 verse 52: and death shall be swallowed in victory!
CHIEF (DR.) EDWIN IDOKO OBE WAS MARRIED WITH CHILDREN.
Compiled by
BENJAMIN EWAOCHE OBE
BA Eng, (Hons) MA Lings.