A Man of Compassion
About Godwin Olughor Agbeyegbe
Late Evangelist Pa Godwin Olughor Agbeyegbe was born on the 15th day of December, 1930, into the families of Agbeyegbe of Mereje Town and Evabore of Egborode Town, both of Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State. He was 3rd among 5 children of his mother and the only child of his father. He got married to four wives of whom one died in 2005, and survived by 26 children, 54 grandchildren and one great grandchild; amongst whom are: Mrs Mary Agbeyegbe (wife), Mrs Cecilia Agbeyegbe (wife), Mrs Alice Agbeyegbe (wife), Mrs Stella Okiedesan, Engr. Henry Agbeyegbe, Mr. William Agbeyegbe, Mrs Catherine Amajefor, Mrs Esther Useoegbu and Mr. Faith Agbeyegbe.
He was such a caring and benevolennt father who placed premium on the well-being of his family over other things. He showed and demonstrated immense love and care, always there for them, and made sure that nothing good was ever lacking. He gave the best of all within his reach, and well loved by his children as well as his wives.
He was a lover and advocate for quality education who sacrificed and invested so much in the future of many as exemplified by how he stood morally and financially for his immediate and extended families for the actualization of their various educational dreams, home and abroad.
A Man of Great Excellence
Educational/Social Life
He attended Akure Memorial School, Mereje Town, and later, Local Authority School (LA), Adeje for the completion and attainment of standard six education. During his early school days, he was a mathematician then popularly called “Sum”, hence he emerge with “Distinction” and as the best graduating student t LA, Adeje in 1951. Being a young lad who lost his father at a very tender age of 5 months, most of his educational achievements were personal struggle.
Moreover, while attending Institute of continuous Education, Warri, he was appointed as a Customary Court President by Ovie Whisky as a result of his intelligence. It is worthy of note that before the aforesaid appointment, Late Evangelist G.O. Agbeyegbe and other participants were divided into various groups and engaged in a dictation contest where the first from each group became the president; Second, the First Member and Third the Second Member of different Customary Courts. He, being whom he was, emerged as his group winner, consequently, the President of the Customary Court, B, Orerokpe in 1978 before the abolishment of the system by Ambrose Ali in 1980.
Furthermore, it may interest you to know that Mereje today started its development in the hands of Mereje General Improvement Union (MGIU), founded in 1949. As a young man endowed with vibrant and promising future, Late Evang. G.O. Agbeyegbe was admitted into that body in 1950. He was the secretary to the planning committee that felled trees and made the town habitable and comfortable despite oppositions.
In 1963, he started involvement in Nigeria politics. He was a staunch member of NCNC, but was not encouraged as a result of what he termed, “Selfishness of Party Leaders”.
Also, being one with the desire to succeed, he went into farming in 1965, and he was a good and prudent farmer.
More so, in 1971, he became a contractor to Mother Cart which constructed the Shell Petroleum Development Company pipelines that cut across Mereje Town. In like manner, in 1973, he served as a maintenance contractor to SPDC. He maintained the line from Mereje/Ugwoton River, Ogbele River, to Mayuku creek (Ituru River). In the same vain, in 1981 after the death of one chief Kokorhogho, the contractor handling the maintenance and other affairs of Amukpe Flow Station, Sapele West Flow Station and Oben Flow Station, these contracts were handed over to Late Evang. G.O. Agbeyegbe through the help of now Chief T.J. Okpoko (SAN) who was given the mandate to provide an indigene with the credentials and requisites for such service, He worked with SPDC as a contractor for many years until contracts were taken from individual contractors and handed over to host communities in 2004.
His Contributions to Mereje Okpe Communities and Mereje Town Community.
In 1967, during the installation of Pa Egbeluya Edodokior as the oldes man in Mereje Town Community, which attracted notable personalities from neigbouring communities that comprise Mereje Okpe Communities, amongst whom were late Chief P.A. Gbenije and others, it was resolved that somebody should be at the helm of affairs for the unification of all the then 25 communities that constituted the Mereje Okpe Communities. Thus, Evang. G.O. Agbeyegbe was appointed as the Secretary General of the body. He rendered selfless services for 19 years (1967-1986) by way of writing, delivering of circulars and visitations which eventuated seasonal meetings where issues affecting the growth of the communities in particular and Okpe in general were disscussed without asking for even a pittance. Amongst other achievements at that time was the erection of the Mereje Town Hall that stands till date which cost all the Mereje Opke Communities ＃25 each except Mereje Town Community which paid a larger sum of ＃50 because it was built in it (Host). In a related development, after the death of Pa Egbeluya in 1983, Late Evang. G.O. Agbeyegbe was appointed as the First Executive Chairman of Mereje Town Community in 1984. During his tenure, it is worth mentioning that there was relative peace, he resumed the marvelous work did in his 50’s by the Mreje General Improvement Union (MGIU); the town was kept clean with the over-grown trees covering its glory removed; vigilantee group was introduced for the first time which kept eyes on the Town especially at night; there was justice; those that flouted the rules governing the town were compelled to pay fines. The complaints about the strictness of his government by some, gives credence to the unassailable claim that many wnat to always have their ways wsithout doing that which is right.
His Contributions to Mereje Okpe Communities and Mereje Town Community.
In 2003, Late Evang. G.O. Agbeyegbe saw that the 25 families that the pipelines cut across their father’s lands were cheated. Hence, he personally left Sapele for Mereje to form the body known as “The 25 Famililies Pipeline Landowners” which controls the affirs of the pipeline till date. Before that mission of his, anyone that assumed the office of the community chairman was to run the activities of the pipeline along concurrently for the number of years in office, not minding if such one was from the 25 families or not. As the founder, he was the First Chairman. He wrote many letters petitions to SPDC and others related bodies for its recognition which yielded much results, as seen in the reacquisition payment made to the body by SPDC in 2007. It is also important to note, that singular idea of his has made many from the pipeline landowning families young millionaires. Before his dealth, he was the Patron and the only surviving one amongst the 25 signatories to the land acquition made by SPDC, in 1972.
His Contributions to Okpe Youth Forum
This body was formed in 1974 to correct some anomalies prevalent in the Okpe Kingdom at that time. It had then Barr. T.J. Okpoko (SAN) as its leader and then Sam. Oyovbaire, now prof. Okakuro Sam. Oyovbaire as its secretary, while Late Evang. G.O. Agbeyegbe as its Documentary Chairman. One of its major achievement was the regulation of the arbitrary use of power common amongst office holders as well as the Traditional Authority in the Okpe Kingdom then.
His Contributions to the Ogbigho and Udumurhie Quaters of Mereje Town
He was an Outstanding Leader and Representative of both quaters as well; always there in times of need and saw to it that all benefits and allocations due to these quaters got to the appropriate hand. Late Evang. G.O. Agbeyegbe made much intellectual, financial and legal contributions for the realization of the dreams of these quaters that gave birth to the Consent Judgement from the Supreme court of Nigeria in 1978 that recognizes the ogbigho and Udumurhie quaters as a single community.
His Contributions to the Eseigbe and the Enebirhe Families of Mereje Town
Being one who had his paternal and maternal roots from the Eseigbe and Enebirhe Families of Mereje Town respectively, he stood as a pillar to both families. That he did by protecting all the properties of thess families from neighbouring invaders, especially those along Seplat Right of Way. By God’s special grace, he attained the position of the Head of both families beffore his Home-call (Demise).
A Man of God
Christian/Religious Life
Late Evang. G.O. Agbeyegbe knew and acceped Christ 2004, and baptized same year at God’s Grace Ministry Inc, Sapele, Delta State, Nigeria. He was an ardent member with high regards for the things of God as well as his Ministers; known for his punctuality and contributions for the mission growth. Notably, as a true Evang, penultimate month to his dealth, during his Duplex House-Opening ceremony at his home town, Mereje, he played a pivotal role in the conversion of his elder cousin, mama Titi Okugbeni, the oldest person in Mereje Town Community. that he did by telling her in clear terms prior to the event that he wouldn’t bury her if she missed such glourious opportunity of conversion. Thus, Mama Titi Okugbeni got converted and baptized same day, 14th November, 2020.
Flowing from the above, it will not amount to exaggeration for one to say that without mentioning Late Evang. Godwin Olughor Agbeyegbe, the history of Mereje Okpe Communities, Mereje Town Community, The 25 Families pipeline Landowners, Okpe Youth Forum, the Ogbigho and Udumurhie Quaters of Mereje Town, the Eseigbe and Enebirhe Families of Mereje Town, Mereje General improvement Union and Others, will not be complete.
Having contributed his quota to humanity on the 30th day of December 2020,we the falimilies of Late Evang. Godwin Olughor Agbeyegbe knew confidently well that he has flown gloriously with honour to eternity, and will always take solace in the fact that he lived an exemplary life, worthy of emulations.
