Nigerian. 1980.
President Shehu Shagari, leader of the most powerful civilian administration of the time, visited Bendel State on an official visit. His presidential jet landed at the airport of Benin. But something was amiss.
No crowd cheering.
No supporters of any party.
No government employees.
No parade of greeting.
The airport was deserted.
The streets were deserted.
The President, apparently confused, questioned, “Where are my people?
They’d been sent back home. Bendel State governor announced a public holiday and ordered inhabitants to stay indoors. The governor was Prof Ambrose Folorunso Alli. And his narrative remains one of the most outstanding in the history of Nigeria.
📚 WHO IS AMBROSE ALLI?
Professor Ambrose Alli was born on September 22, 1929. He was not a career politician.
He was a distinguished professor of Morbid Anatomy and a university scholar and a staunch believer that education was the path to changing society.
In 1979, under the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he became the first civilian Governor of Bendel State (now Edo and Delta States).
His campaign pledges seemed impossible:
✅ Education for free ✅ Healthcare for free ✅ Development of rural areas ✅ Opportunities for jobs
And unlike many politicians, he actually tried to do it.
🏫 WHAT HE CREATED
As governor, Ambrose Alli initiated one of the most ambitious social programmes in Nigerian history.
• Free education in primary and secondary schools
• School supplies, writing supplies, free textbooks
• More than 600 new secondary schools
• Colleges of Education at Ekiadolor, Agbor, Warri and Ozoro
• Three polytechnics
• Four teachers colleges
• Free treatment and medicines in government hospitals.
And maybe his most lasting legacy:
🎓 Bendel State University, Ekpoma (established in 1981 and later renamed Ambrose Alli University after him).
He was so preoccupied with government that he cared nothing for luxury, according to stories of the time, and often went to work in basic sandals. THE STRUGGLE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
A state has to be changed with money.
Professor Alli said oil producing states were not getting their due share of national revenue.
So he took a step that was almost unique:
He challenged the Federal Government and brought President Shagari’s government to court over the sharing of the Federation Account revenues.
An opposition governor suing a sitting president. It was courageous then. Maybe. And risky.
Perhaps more surprise was the backing by Rivers State Governor Melford Okilo, a member of Shagari’s ruling party, of the challenge.
There were limits to political loyalty in the case of Niger Delta resources.
✈️ THE PRESIDENTIAL VISIT AT
Tensions rose.
When President Shagari came to Bendel State, Governor Alli publicly expressed his disapproval of the visit.
The residents shunned it.
The President passed through streets almost empty. But the two men met finally at Government House, despite the political drama.
Two great leaders.
Two competing visions.
One that will not be forgotten in Nigeria’s democratic history.
⚖️ THE FALL
A military coup on 31 December 1983 ended the Second Republic in Nigeria. Professor Ambrose Alli arrested.
A military tribunal eventually condemned him to 100 years imprisonment for alleged misappropriation of ₦983,000 earmarked for a road project.
The same man that built hundreds of schools.
The same man who gave free schooling.
Same guy that made bendel state.
100 years.
He was released later, but the harm was already done.
🕊️ THE END OF LIFE
Professor Ambrose Alli died at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital on September 22, 1989.
He died on his 60th birthday.
The same date as he was born.
Years later, the president pardoned him.
His family disowned it.
Their argument was straightforward:
‘He didn’t do anything wrong.
Still today many regard him as one of Nigeria’s most significant governors and a model of honest leadership.
🇳🇬 THE LEGACY OF AMBROSE ALLI
A governor who defied power.
A governor who put money into education.
A governor who thought public service is for the people, not personal gain.
You may or may not agree with all his acts but his name is indelibly printed in the history of Edo, Delta and Nigeria as a whole.
Did you know of Professor Ambrose Alli before today?
What do you think today’s leaders can learn from his story?
Let us know what you think below
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All reactions:
373
Austus-Pee Omon Okoduwa 16h Felix Tom-Edeigba
Today’s politicians and political leaders are so greedy for wealth that they can never and will never learn anything from this great man.
He did not only grant free education to primary and secondary schools, also the higher institutions, including nearly free eating. I recall how we use to enter Bensu bus from market roundabout to ujoulen grammar with a ticket of 50kobo to eat a substantial supper with almost half chicken or 400gram of meat.
He was a good man.”
Felix Tom-Edeigba 14h
I will find it very tough to find a man like this amazing Nigerian from Bendel State, Edo state.
14h Omosun Lucky James
He will be forever remembered in the history of edo state.
13h Luke Isaac Oaikhenan Ehiatamah
But those who had encouraged uneducated and poor market women to equip themselves with brooms sweeping his feet away from the roads, even the he created, never knew that they were sweeping away the future of their children and the progress of the state. Nemesis in action. God have mercy.
12h Francis Ezoiribhor:
I like free education, free books and writing materials. May his soul continue to rest in peace in Jesus name Amen 12h Jerome Ejele
Their govt was far far superior than this o
This was the man who knew what Governance was.
10h Eboigbe Joseph Am so speechless 10h Ehioboh Maurice
Best product of Esan land
We still got a lot like him but it’s not really common
Esan’s finest project 10h
Culled from Facebook by : Iduh Aroboinosen’s post.
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