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By: Adeosun Ewatomi
*Dele Momodu and his Presence in Edo North ADC*
Yesterday, in Benin City, at the magnificent New Secretariat _Palace_ of the ADC in Edo State, there was an activity that was decidedly a veritable political earthquake. And it was just as well, because the renowned and positively reputed Chief Dele Momodu, former Presidential candidate of the PDP in 2023, Veteran Publisher, Social Influencer, Entrepreneur, Writer and Teacher was aligning with the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Edo State for the first time.
The ecstasy of Party faithfuls, which was already at boiling point in anticipating his arrival in Benin City, exploded into mixed splinters of great joy and great apprehension, when he stepped down to the State Secretariat's grounds; sending shock waves across the politically active State. " Why is Dele Momodu joining the ADC this time?" The tension from the opposite side was only comparable in the converse, with the ecstasy on the ADC side.
Chief Dele Momodu must have noticed the electrifying atmosphere too, because he quickly deflated from the tension by assuring every one present that his immediate focus in coming to the Party at home, was not to displace anyone from serving in their political offices, nor to discouraging anyone aspiring to serve.
His first impulse in coming home, obviously, was to savour the reality of what had always been a nostalgic past of absence for him. And his second reason for coming was to settle in among some old war horses, with whom, he had been in the trenches together in the past; fighting many battles for Democracy and for Nigeria. He wants to continue those battles from the home front. He wants to be counted as one of those who did not keep quiet, when Nigeria faced an impending catastrophy. More importantly, he wants to be one of those who reversed that catastrophy, using the political instrumentality of the ADC.
One of such cherished senior veteran is Chief John Odigie Oyegun, now the National Leader of ADC in Edo State.
The second veteran is Senator Yisa Braimah, of whom Chief Dele Momodu spoke with filial feelings and emotional connection. From the day they meant, the now octogenarian Senator, had adopted the then young Dele as a son. They have been through places and things together like father and son. One of such poignant things is when the good Senator arranged Dele's coming to his home town for the first time, after 30years.
For the ageless Senator, Dele Momodu's political homecoming was verbally indescribable. Sitting side by side, amid many whisperings, on the VIP's table, yesterday, their infectious combination awakened Edo North people to the realization that they have been fortuitously blessed with two superlative political
juggernauts, of which combination, the district can now proudly say: Edo North is in safe hands.
As the leader of the ADC in Edo North, Yisa Braimah led the way in emphasizing the special value the senatorial district places on their iconic son. He did not only lead Chief Dele Momodu to Benin City, he further mobilized the entire Edo North leadership to accompany him back to his Ihievbe town, where a mammoth crowd were all seated and waiting under a long sequence of canopies, in a commendable, well behaved manner.
Later in the evening, Edo North Coalition leaders met with Chief Dele Momodu in his elegant sitting room. They welcomed him and briefed him about the set up back home so far. They advised him to not rest in his oars, but to brace up for such responsibilities his Edo North people might request of him going forward.
Chief Dele Momodu was happy to receive them. He explained again, his desire to contribute his quota to the growth and development of his people's political future, under the able leadership of Senator Yisa Braimah.