Mrs Josephine Tamuno, not real name, couldn’t hold her tears when news broke on October 15, 2023 that an Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has upturned the election tribunal judgment of September 7, 2023, which nullified the election of Honourable Fred Agbedi, as member, representing Sagbama/Ekeremor federal constituency, Bayelsa state. The reporter who was on official return trip from Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, to Abuja, where he went to cover an event but decided to stop over for an adventure at Ruthmore Hotel Yenagoa, picked interest in the conversation within the vicinity of the hotel. He went closer to Mrs Tamuno, one of the outspoken persons leading the conversation in the midst of others who boldly testified of Agbedi’s philanthropic gestures.
Mrs. Tamuno, beaming with smiles, greeted the reporter. Why are you coming close to me sir, she enquired? I saw you shedding tears of joy and at the same time singing praises of Honourable Fred Agbedi. So, I decided to come close to cheer you up, ma, retorted the reporter. Hmmm, Mrs Tamuno breathed in and out and began to narrate the story behind her tears. “You see my dear, I received good news today regarding a prominent son of Bayelsa state who is an honourable member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor federal constituency in the House of Representatives.
“Though, I am not from his immediate constituency but then, as an indigene of Pantani local government area, I can testify about the unimaginable kind gestures of Fred Agbedi. I am glad mainly because the election appeal tribunal sitting in Abuja has nullified the earlier ruling of the tribunal which set aside the election of Honourable Fred Agbedi. So, you are crying because of the good news you received today?” “Yes”, Mrs Tamuno replied! “Please, tell me more about this man”, I cunningly demanded from Mrs Tamuno! “Where can I even start from, Mrs Tamuno thought! “Well, you see, this very wrapper you see me tying round my waist was given to me and hundreds of other women by Honourable Fred Agbedi.
“He has been a blessing to many women, youths, men, widows and orphans across the eight local government areas of Bayelsa state unlike other politician who only focus on providing succour for their immediate constituency. In fact, if I am to talk about his kind gestures in the area of human and infrastructural development which in all standard has positively transformed the lives of the entire community and almost every part of Bayelsa state, you may miss your flight back to Abuja,” Mrs Tamuno echoed.
Honestly, writing about Honourable Fred Agbedi could be said to be a herculean task because it’s all about a man picked up by God from the back side of the world and helped to become highly successful. Agbdi is a man built by the Almighty God with a heart of gold. A humane, hardworking, de-tribalised, intelligent and, an academically sound educationist who began his life’s journey as a community teacher.
He is an administrator and a political leader with a large heart that can go to any length to set out his best to make sure unparalleled results are achieved in anything he ventures into. Writing about Fred Agbedi, whom, in all ramification, has put in his best to ensure better lives for every Nigerians and especially the people of Bayelsa state that crossed his part irrespective of ethnicity, tribe, religion, political affiliation, parental background, etc, reminds me of these poetic lines put together by a scholar; Maya Angelou, on her leadership topic titled: ‘Still I Rise’.
Continuing with her scholarly concept, she said, ‘The stories and the impacts leaders made on those around them will definitely in no distant time enable more leaders to emerge’. She went further to buttress her cognitive thoughts by presenting them in poetic lines which dwelt seriously on determination and bulldog tenacity that captures the visionary and compassionate leadership styles of Fred Agbedi.
But still, like air, I’ll rise..
Out of the huts of history’s shame, I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain, I rise..
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear, I rise..
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear, I rise…
Angelou, a descendant of enslaved background, was born into abject poverty in a culture of heightened racial discrimination and inequality. Her early life was marked by parental divorce, sexual and racial violence as well as teenage motherhood. Yet, miraculously she put herself together with bulldog tenacity and determination, she transcended her challenges and inter-generational traumas of being born into slavery to become a beacon of wisdom, hope, truth, light and provider for those around her.
So, like Dr. Maya Angelou, Honourable Fred Agbedi, who hails from a small water-locked hamlet called Aghoro in Ekeremor local government area of Bayelsa state, decided never to give up. He stepped out of his abode. And as God and destiny would have it, he is at the moment writing his name and the name of the entire Bayelsa state and especially the people of Sagbama/Ekeremor federal constituency that he is representing at the green chamber of the National Assembly in gold in view of his unimaginable optimistic contributions towards nation building both at local, national and international arena.
Born on February 20, 1960, Agbedi is an Ijaw with great passion and versatile knowledge on educational management. A political shamanism with impeccable eccentric, the federal law maker began his political career in 1992 when he won election as the youngest honourable member of the House of Representatives during the botched third republic. Agbedi, as a young, ebullient man with determination to ensure better life for the riverine communities in the area that is today known as Bayelsa state, joined a group that tenaciously and collectively fought and lobbied the Nbanefo panel in charge of state creation in 1996, which eventually gave birth to the creation of Bayelsa state.
Agbedi served as state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when former President Goodluck Jonathan was the governor of Bayelsa state. He was also an aide to former Senate President Adolphus Wabara. Agbedi was house committee chairman oil and gas of the eighth assembly, the position which he used to displayed excellent leadership which till today is still standing tall in Nigeria and in the midst of his contemporaries at the green chamber of the National Assembly.
Presently, he is the chairman, House Committee on FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters. The fearless, vision driving Fred Agbedi, with landmark achievements attached to his profile, had on two occasions vied for the number one position of Bayelsa state. On the two gallant moves which all political pundits that are abreast with his leadership capacities testified that he not only possesses all the qualities to become the governor of Bayelsa state, but he is also an asset that can pilot the affairs of any state in Nigeria in view of his broad experience and links across board. Having contested for governorship of Bayelsa state in 2011 and 2019, will Agbedi again vie for the governorship in 2027. Time will tell.
Edache, a public commentator, writes from Otukpo, Benue state.
