The Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has immortalized
the late Senator Franca Afegbua,
Nigeria’s first elected female Senator, naming the Ogiriga-Afokpella-Okugbe Road after the Senator
who represented Bendel North
Senatorial District of Old Bendel
State.
The Ogiriga-Afokpella-Okugbe Road, which is 14km long, is
the longest road in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area
of Edo State.
Obaseki, at the service of
songs held in honour of late Sen.
Afegbua in Benin City, celebrated the life and legacies of the late
Senator, describing her as an Amazon and a worthy ambassador
of the state.
The governor was accompanied by his wife, Betsy; Secretary
to Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq.; Speaker of the
Edo State House of Assembly, Rt.
Hon. Blessing Agbebaku; former
Governors of Edo State, John
Odigie Oyegun and Osariemeh
Osunbor; former Senators, Roland Owie and Clifford Odia, as
well as religious and political
leaders, amongst others.
Obaseki said: “We are celebrating today, an amazon and
iconic Edo woman. She lived a
life of sacrifice, as her life was
all about giving to people. She
lived ahead of her time, fought
for inclusion five decades ago,
and argued for women’s right
and participation in politics.
“We are glad as Edo people
because we have always blazed
the trail and produced iconic
leaders in Nigeria. We thank
her for the inspiration she
has been and the light she has
brought and shown. We must
immortalize her for what she
has achieved for the State and
Country.”
The governor continued: “She
loved Okpella and was part of immortalizing her must start from
Okpella. So, I have decided that
the Ogiriga-Afokpella-Okugbe
Road constructed by the Edo
State government will now be
named after Sen. Franca Afegbua.
“It’s the longest road in Okpella. It is 14km. We will look
for other ways to continue to immortalize this great, iconic Edo woman.
