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BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN TEACHING HOSPITAL, COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CENTRE, OGBONA, NOW CHIEF M.C.K ORBIH COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CENTRE, OGBONA BY DR. FELIX ORBIH AND GILBERT ODIOR It will be difficult to understand the relationship or connection between UBTH and this great educationist and worthy son of Ogbona without a peep into the political antecedent of the man Chief Michael Clement Kadiri ORBIH. Chief MCK equipped himself with a Grade iii Teachers Certificate in 1946, followed by Grade II Teachers’ Certificate in 1948 in the same institution -St John Bosco’s Teachers’ Training College, Ubiaja. He had a very rewarding Teaching career with many of the students who passed through his tutelage as their headmaster in Primary Schools or their Principal at the Blessed Martins Secondary Modern School, Jattu. Uzairue, are now old Professors and distinguished professionals in various fields of human endeavours.  He made his foray into politics in 1954 when he contested and won the election to  represent his Clan at the Etsako District Council at Auchi as headquarters, on the platform of the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroun (N.C.N.C)  Party, led by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.  In 1957, he attended the Institute of Administration, Ahmadu Bello University. Zaria, where he obtained the Certificate in Local Government Administration. Towards the end of the British Colonial era, the Pre-Independence years (1956-1959), Chief MCK Orbih, acceding to the yearnings of his people, joined the Action Group (A.G) Party, under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo from Ikenne, Western Region of Nigeria. In 1957, Chief Orbih was appointed a member of the Western Region’s Advisory Board of Education. On December 12, 1959, Chief MCK Orbih took the big plunge into the vast National political landscape. He contested and won the Federal Elicitation into the House of Representative in Lagos on the Platform of A.G Party, thus becoming the youngest Member of Parliament (M.P) in the House, at Nigeria’s Independence on October I, 1960.  For five years, he represented his people of Afenmai Constituency well.  From his brilliant contributions to debates on the floor of the House, he left no one in doubt that his main reason for being in politics was for the socio-economic development of his people and country.  In and outside Parliament, the young and ebullient Honourable MCK exhibited his attributes of a man of strong and selfless character and infectious amity. With the first Nigerian Military Coup that overthrew the civilian government of Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, on January 15, 1966, the political glamour of the First Republic was over and many politicians went underground while some fled the Country, but Chief Orbih like few others, and went back to his roots to continue his continue his private business among his people unmolested. After a long period of Military interregnum (from 1966, which included counter coups, change of governments, three years civil war and post- war reconstruction; the ban on political activities was lifted. Chief MCK Orbih became one of the founding Leaders of the National Party of Nigeria NPN)-one of the few new major political parties registered to contest elections for the Second Republic. The National Party of Nigeria, NPN presented Alhaji Shehu Shagari as its Presidential flag bearer while the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and the Nigeria’s Peoples Party (NPP) presented Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe respective flag bearers. A confident, courageous, an experienced political motivator, mobilizer and experienced organizer that he was, Chief Orbih decided to return to Parliament by contesting on the platform of NPN in the new elections scheduled for middle of 1979. MCK was fully aware he was going to run against his former Party its Flag bearer, then the Presidential flag bearer of the new Party UPN in the new political dispensation. As a well-known loyal and dedicated party leader, Chief Orbih with other leaders campaigned vigorously not only for his candidacy in his Constituency but also throughout the State for the NPN’s Gubernatorial and Presidential Flagbearers for the State and Country respectively. Election Day came. Voters, turnout was massive and impressive. Field report indicated that MCK. Obviously adjudged the most popular candidate, was coasting home to a very comfortable victory over his main opponent. The result from his constituency, which was awaited with keen interest was delayed for nearly 24 hours; by the time the results were announced the following day, the National Election Commission (NECO), declared MCK Orbih the “loser”, with their figures allegedly concocted by the known chief collating officer and chief returning officer from the area, to the chagrin and consternation of teeming NPN supporters who were spoiling for War. He told them to be peaceful and “leave things to God who knows best.” MCK would insist that Politics should not lead to the flow of human blood; if it does, it is no longer Politics but War! In the final analysis, Ambrose Ali, a Professor of Morbid Anatomy at University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).  won as the UPN Governor of Bendel State. Alhaji Shehu Shagari of the NPN, won the Presidency with very impressive showing against Chief Obafemi Awolowo, even in Bendel State. On October 1, 1979 Alhaji Shehu Shagari was sworn in as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in a handing-over ceremony by the Military Government of General Olusegun Obasanjo. Early in June 1980, the appointment of Chief MCK Orbih as Chairman of UBTH. Management Board was made, with others. The inauguration and first general meeting of the Boards of all the 10 Federal Teaching Hospitals at that time was held in Lagos under the Honourable Minister of Health in Lagos on 13th June 1980. In an official Congratulatory message to Chief MCK Orbih on his appointment, President Shehu Shagari, on 17th June 1980 wrote: “I feel particularly delighted to congratulate you on your appointment as Chairman of University of Benin Teaching Hospital. While you may not know it, your unsung attributes were more than sufficient to have secured you this responsible and demanding post. It was not

  HISTORY OF OGBONA COMMUNITY SECONDARY SCHOOL, OGBONNA BY ALFRED IDODE AND JOHN ANAWEOKHAI Ogbona Community Secondary School was one of the projects solely conceived, funded and established by Ogbona Imhakhena Federated Union. The school started out as Ogbona Community Secondary School but later the word community was dropped from its name. The school is now referred to as OGBONA SECONDARY SCHOOL, OGBONNA 4TH OGBONA IMHAKHENA FEDERATED UNION CONFERENCE 1978 At the 4th conference held at the Imhakhena Primary School, Ogbona March 25th-26th 1978, serious discussions were held on the government requirements for establishing a secondary school: – Name, Site, Number of classroom blocks and many other preliminary arrangements that would quicken government approval for secondary school. After a thorough discussion on the issue, the conference unanimously agreed that since money would be needed to achieve any stage of the project, it should be wise to think of how and where to get the funds first. Decisions arrived at were: – Imposition of a grammar school levy on all Ogbona sons/daughters home and abroad. OIFU Lagos branch was mandated to work out a tabulated, convenient and meaningful levy to get started on the project. That defaulters would be denied access to performing, Okhei, marriage and burial ceremonies at Ogbona. Set up a committee at Ogbona to sanction defaulters etc. 5TH OGBONA IMHAKHENA FEDERATED UNION CONFERENCE 1979 November 11, 1979 another conference was held at Ogbona Imhakhena primary school to ratify the proposed Grammar School levy for Home and abroad. GRAMMAR SCHOOL LEVY FOR ABROAD Was already circulated by Lagos to branches and individuals since 28th April 1978 (see enclosures) GRAMMAR SCHOOL LEVY – HOME Was fixed as follows Every taxable adult and from the age group of Ifaorumhe (Obotsemeghie Age group) down to the youngest, should pay Men         –  Nl5 Women – N10 (From same age group) since the home   people were to be involved in direct labour of the project. GRAMMAR SCHOOL FUND BOARD OF TRUSTEES A three-man board of Trustees was then approved and appointed to operate and manage the grammar school fund. Chairman – Chief V.A Omadimhe, Treasurer-Mr. P.A Obeakemhe and Secretary – Mr. P.S.  Eleta Resolutions to enable board of trustees operate an account with the Barclays Bank, Auchi, (now Union Bank) were to be drawn up by OIFU, Lagos. OIFU, Auchi reported that the SCHOOL PROJECT RECEIPTS had been printed and ready for distribution to branches nationwide. REPORT ON THE PROPOSED GRAMMAR SCHOOL Chief (Hon) M.C.K Orbih reported that the site of the proposed Grammar School had been surveyed, inspected and declared okay by the health officials while mounting pressure for an early approval. Chief V.A. Omadimhe demanded to know what happened to the second suggested site on Ogbona – Fugar Road (Abughievhaegbe). Ogbona-Fugar Road suggested site was disapproved by Health Officials. LAUNCHING AND FUND RAISING 1980: – OIFU LAGOS was mandated to fix a suitable day for launching/fund raising for 1980. A successful launching and fund raising was organized at Ogbona under the chairmanship of Chief (Hon.) M. C. K Orbih. Some of the Highlights of the fund-raising events 1980: – His Excellency Demas Akpore, Deputy   Governor   of   Bendel State promised   Govt. support and cooperation with community Chief M.C.K Orbih N1,000 Chief (Alhaji) Inu Umoru N2,500 Chief K.O Abiola N 5,000 – A chieftain of NPN (Highest Individual Donor) Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe’s friends N19,500 – Represented by Mrs. (DR.) J. Akhigbe (Highest group donation). Major Francis Atsegwasi N500 Chief Tom Otsu N500 A. B .C Momodu N500 John Idode N100 Gregory Enegwea N100 Bernard Orbih. 100 bags of cement and 20 bundles of zinc – Quantify in monetary term at the time N450 Chief J.A. Odalumhe supervised and superintended everything and every work done in the school. His contributions cannot be quantified in monetary terms. Many other donors /contributors who made their contributions in cash and in kind to the successful completion of the great Ogbona Community Grammar School. God bless and reward you all richly in the Name of Jesus. Amen. By: Alfred Enetomhe Idode   THE FOUNDING OF OGBONA SECONDARY SCHOOL Until 1979 all Ogbona sons and daughters must attend post primary school outside of Ogbona, all efforts to get a secondary school for the community proved abortive but as fate would have it, Chief T. A. Osigbemhe became the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education. With Ogbona man close to the seat of power, it became easier to create a synergy and channel all the concerns through him to the appropriate authority for quick and positive response. Naturally, the onerous task of drafting a strongly worded letter, pleading Ogbona case fell within the purview of Ogbona community in Benin which was chaired by Chief Vital Anaweokhai, and they rose to the occasion and indeed wrote a petition to the ministry of education and within the shortest possible time, there was a response with the request for a 200 hectares of land that included plan for future development .Very quickly, Chief M.C.K Orbih and Chief Odalumhe leveraged their good standing in the community to talk the land owners into giving out an expanse of land that almost doubled the size of the official requirement. Eventually, the land was secured, and work commenced in earnest with a six-class room and staff room structures. True to type, Ogbona people never saw it as a government project, but an opportunity to contribute individually and collectively to the development of their community. Every adult, both male and female were levied a certain amount each. The money was levied through the age grade structure thus making it almost impossible to beat payment. All bricklayers and carpenters donated their skills pro bono daily. Each age group was tasked with the responsibility of providing menial labour, including women. It was a project that signposted the limitless height that is attainable with a clear and well- defined singleness of purpose. All the various family and Imhakhena unions in all the major cities across Nigeria were also levied