THE LIFE AND TIMES OF PRINCE DR OGIRI AJENE.
FORMER DEPUTY GOVERNOR (1999-2007) BENUE STATE
(Life span 1956-2013)
Credit: Burial Program
Prince Ogiri Ajene was an accomplished administrator, politician and a patriot. He was born 1956 to HRH. AGABAIDU ABRAHAM AJENE OKPABI – OCHI’IDOMA II of Umapia Adum-East in Obi LGA, Benue state and PRINCESS COMFORT, daughter of HRH OGIRI OKO – OCHI’IDOM the first.
Despite his double royal parentage, Prince Ogiri Ajene threw away his silver spoon, preferring, instead, to live the life and keep the company of commoners. He didn’t allow his royalty and high political office to becloud his reasoning and respect for common humanity. This aspect of his personality came to the fore early in his life when, after bagging his first and second Master’s degree in political science from Ahmedu Bello university (ABU) Zaria and in university of Jos in 1985 respectively, he decided to take up a career in the civil service.
In the thirteen years he served in the civil service of Benue state (1979-1992) and the federation (1989-1992), he showed exemplary dedication and commitment to excellence duty. Very uncharacteristic of royalty, he lived with the masses and always threw his residence wide open to whoever visited or wished to stay with him.
The events that would ultimately define Prince Ogiri Ajene place in history took place on the political arena. He hit the political turf running in 1992 when he joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), became a national convention delegate of the party and was elected as a member of the house of representatives on the party platform same year. However, his tenure was cut short by General Sani Abacha’s military coup of November 17, 1993.
Following the return of another democratic experience, Prince Ogiri Ajene was one of the founding members of the United Nigerian Congress Party (UNCP) and later Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It was on the platform of the latter that he contested and won the position of the deputy governor to Governor George Akume.
Shortly after leaving office, Prince Ogiri Ajene, did was hitherto considered unthinkable. He made history by becoming the first, and this far, the only deputy governor in Nigeria to have returned to the grassroots to contest and win a councillorship seat. He did that at Obarike-Ito council ward at Obi LGA, Benue state. And to demonstrate that it was not for money, the Prince didn’t touch his salary during his three years in office as councillor.
Prince Ogiri Ajene was a very calculative politician who would devote considerable thought to issue before taking decision or action. “HURRY SLOWLY” was his political slogan and and advice to those who sought fatherly direction.
He was a successful family man with a wife and children.
Prince (Dr.) Ogiri Ajene died on April 19th 2013 in a hospital in London and was buried on Saturday 11th may 2013 at his resident in Adum-East, Obi LGA Benue state.
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