Odion Ugbesia

Magnus Odion Ugbesia
National Senator
Incumbent
Assumed office 2007
Constituency	Edo South
Personal details
Born	28 January 1949 Ubiaja, Edo State
Nationality	Nigerian
Political party	People's Democratic Party (PDP)
Spouse(s)	Lily Odion-Ugbesia
Children	4
Profession	Teacher, Politician
Religion	Christian

Elder Magnus Odion Ugbesia is a Nigerian politician who was elected to the National Senate in 2007 representing the Edo Central constituency of Edo State for the People's Democratic Party (PDP).^[1]

Background

Odion Ugbesia was born on 28 January 1949 in Ubiaja, Edo State. He gained a BA in Political Science from the University of Illinois, and an MA in International Relations from Northeastern Illinois University, USA. From 1978 to 1989 he was a Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Benin. He also served as Edo State Coordinator, and was a member of the Presidential Policy Advisory Committee on Niger Delta and other Oil Producing Areas.^[2]

Government positions

Odion Ugbesia was appointed Commissioner for Information in Edo state, then became special assistant to the Federal Minister of Housing. He was promoted to Minster of State at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In July 2003, President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him Minister of Solid Minerals.^[3]

In a November 2003 interview, he stated that Nigeria had great mineral wealth, including gold, tantalite, barite, coal, steel and iron ore. These resources had not been sufficiently explored. The government had a seven year development plan, including revival of the Geological Survey Agency, conducting a full Airborne Geophysical Survey, and improving mining infrastructure and facilities. An important consideration was reducing environmental damage. The government planned to formalize artesanal mining, training miners and monitoring their activity. The Nigerian Coal Corporation was being privatized, and foreign investment was welcomed.^[3]

As early as July 2004, Odion Ugbesia was being considered as a potential candidate for governor of Edo State in the 2007 elections.^[4] He was the favorite of Chief Anthony Anenih, one of the most powerful men in the state, having once been Anenih's personal assistant.^[5] In December 2007 his daughter, Omozuwa, married Iriaobe Anenih, son of Chief Tony Anenih.^[6] However, President Obasanjo insisted that Professor Osariemen Osunbor, cousin to his late wife, Stella, would be the PDP governorship candidate.^[7]

Senate career

Odion Ugbesia was elected to the Senate for Edo Central in April 2007 for the People's Democratic Party (PDP). He was appointed to committees on Employment, Labour & Productivity, Air Force, Navy, National Planning and National Identity Card & Population.^[1]

In July 2009, Odion Ugbesia withdrew his opposition to President Umaru Yar'Adua's nominee, Jude Ise-Idehen of the Action Congress (AC), as the Commissioner representing Edo State on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), although his colleague Senator Ehigie Uzamere of Edo South maintained opposition to the appointment.^[8]

In November 2009, Ugbesia described the achievements he had made as senator in attracting projects to his Senatorial district. They included the Northern Ishan regional water project, work on the Ebu-Ahia-Asaba Road, a primary health centre with beds and medical equipment and borehole, contracts for control of erosion, farmland irrigation at Ilushi and rural porverty alleviation schemes.^[9]

Ugbesia ran successfully for reelection as Edo Central Senator on the PDP platform in the April 2011 elections.^[10]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Sen. Odion M. Ugbesia". National Assembly of Nigeria. http://www.nassnig.org/senate/member.php?senator=52. Retrieved 2009-11-27. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ "Ministers: A Biographical Summary". NigeriaFirst. http://www.nigeriafirst.org/docs/ministers_profiles.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-27. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "INTERVIEW WITH: ELDER ODION M. UGBESIA, HONOURABLE MINISTER OF SOLID MINERALS DEVELOPMENT". World Investment News. 13 November 2003. http://www.winne.com/africa/nigeria/topinterviews/2004/ugbesia.php. Retrieved 2009-11-27. 
4. ^ Peter Okhiria (July 30, 2004). "Edo 2007: The battle ahead". BNW News. http://news.biafranigeriaworld.com/archive/2004/jul/30/049.html. Retrieved 2009-11-27. 
5. ^ MIKAIL MUMUNI (April 8, 2007). "Candidates to beat". Daily Sun. http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2007/apr/08/national-08-04-2007-01.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-27. 
6. ^ Chidi Obineche and Lucky Nwankwere (September 9, 2008). "Yar’Adua fires Kingibe, appoints Yayale Ahmed SGF". Daily Sun. http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2008/sept/09/national-09-09-2008-001.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-27. 
7. ^ CHRISTIAN ITA and Jacob Edi (July 1, 2007). "The clash of two old farmers". Daily Sun. http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2007/july/01/national-01-07-2007-001.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-27. 
8. ^ Emmanuel Aziken (16 July 2009). "Edo Senators At War Over NDDC Nominee". Vanguard. http://allafrica.com/stories/200907161110.html. Retrieved 2009-11-27. 
9. ^ TONY OSAUZO (November 23, 2009). "Anenih, godfather of Nigerian politics – Ugbesia". Daily Sun. http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/nov/23/national-23-11-2009-15.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-27. 
10. ^ Stephen Gbadamosi (17 April 2011). "New face of National Assembly". Sunday Tribune. http://www.tribune.com.ng/sun/index.php/the-polity/3639-new-face-of-national-assembly. Retrieved 2011-04-21. 

ACN: Action Congress of Nigeria - ANPP: All Nigeria People's Party - APGA: All Progressives Grand Alliance - CPC: Congress for Progressive Change - DPP Democratic People's Party - LP: Labour Party - PDP: People's Democratic Party

See also Members of the Senate of Nigeria in the 6^th National Assembly (2007-2011)

Persondata
Name	Ugbesia, Odion Magnus
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1949-01-28
Place of birth	Ubiaja, Edo State
Date of death
Place of death