Sabongida Ora Has Made My Life – IGP

BEING A REMARKS BY IGP SOLOMON EHIGIATOR ARASE AT THE CIVIC RECEPTION ORGANISED IN HIS HONOUR BY ORA-EKPEN DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION AT HOLY TRINITY GRAMMAR SCHOOL, SABONGIDA ORA ON SAT. 25 JULY, 2015
Protocols
It is in humility and a deep nostalgic feeling that I stand before you all today as you honour me with this marvellously organised civic reception. Sabongida Ora represents an invalucible part of my life. Aside my maternal bond, the Holy Trinity Grammar School Sabongida Ora where this event is holding is my alma mater.
Standing here, therefore, elicits some emotional feelings as it reminds me of the good old days when on this ground, we were exposed to a rich mixture of stern discipline, academic excellence, sporting brilliance, and strong social and communal bond. It enlivens in me the memory of an unassuming young secondary school boy jumping around with friends in School and walking home to a caring mother that was uncompromising in discipline.
A mother who consistently sounded it into my ears that sacrifice, diligence, perseverance and complete reverence of the Almighty God are indispensable ingredients of future success. It reminds me of the values set for me by my parents and the deep struggle I had in sustaining them as I struggle through the storm of life.
Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, standing here today and looking at the personalities seated at this event, I could see a rich array of other old boys of Holy Trinity Grammar School, my academic soul mates with whom we marched proudly to the daily assembly and savoured all the pleasure, pains, pride and promises this great institution offered. I could also see a rich array of friends with whom we traversed the neighbourhood and enjoyed the communal ambience of Sabongida Ora in the days of yore. I see my dear Uncle, Prof. Ifidon, and my other relations who in the true sense of the strong family bond we enjoyed, collectively raised me to climb through the thorns and mountain of life to where I am today.
Today, your presence at this event goes beyond the celebration of Solomon Igbe-Arase. It is in its true meaning, a celebration of a re-union of some sort, and an acknowledgement of the roles you have individually and collectively played in my evolutionary years. The honour of today is, therefore yours, for you added value to my youthful years and made my life worth celebrating today.
It is in acknowledgement of my past and deep appreciation of the Mercy of the Almighty God, the Sole Perfector of our lives that I, therefore, feel most elated to receive the honour being bestowed on me by you my friends, school mates, family and the entire Sabongida Ora Community today.
For an overwhelming honour of this  nature, how does the humble beneficiary appreciate in the face of time and space limitations? This remains my challenge as I stand before you. Permit me, nonetheless, to specifically appreciate some few personalities and use them as point of contact to all other equally valuable guests, friends and relations that have made this event possible.
I must start by specially appreciating our dear Comrade Governor, His Excellency, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the Executive Governor of our dear State who has been consistent in his support for me all through my professional career and who in demonstration of his Jove for me has again honoured me with his presence at this event. Our dear Comrade Governor, may God continue to enrich your coast and grant you wisdom as you lead our State to the path of unprecedented development.
I also remain especially grateful to our Most Respected Royal father, the Ojie of Ora who shocked me this morning by bestowing on me and my wife the Chieftaincy title of ‘The Ojeagbase of Ora Kingdom’. I shall continue to depend on His Majesty’s rich fountain of wisdom as I provide policing leadership for our nation.
Let me also acknowledge the support of Prof. Ahonkhai, Rev. Obadan, Arumeni Johnson, Rotimi Arumemein and the entire members of Ora Ekperi development Association. On behalf of my family I remain immensely grateful for this honour and for the personal sacrifices you must have made to make it as memorable as it is. May the Almighty God return the honour you have bestowed on me to you, perfect your ways and grant you protection and success in all your endeavours.
Sabongida Ora has made my life. In line with the time tested saying that ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’, I can only promise three things in return. Firstly, in my line of duty, I shall continue to project those values that will edify this Community and I will never engage in anything that will bring our communal values and the image of Sabongida Ora Community into disrepute.
Secondly, to my relations who raised me and my friends who supported me, I will not let you down. I shall continue to keep the bond and hold on to your hands and hearts as we jointly continue to walk through the journey of life.
Thirdly, I promise to give back to Saborigida Ora and Owan Land what the Community has given to me. It is in furtherance of this that I incorporated the Madam
Mercy Igbe-Arase (Nee Ifidon) Foundation which has been awarding scholarships to deserving Owan West and East Undergraduates to enable them fulfil their dreams and make their youthful age and future as worth celebrating as mine. Aside this, I shall also continue to join hands with my friends to drive the development of this Community.
In attaining these, permit me to emphasis what life has taught me. Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, life has taught me that while destiny shapes the future, hard work, humility, self-discipline and perseverance enriches the process. It is in this light that I wish to call on all parents in Owan Land and Edo State in general to join hands in restoring the dwindling discipline, moral standard, and academic passion of our youths.
A community without morally astute youths is a community that will remain perpetually endangered and threatened with serious social disorders like kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism. This is the reality of our society today and it takes the community to resolve to restore sanity. I, therefore wish to use this occasion to appeal to our children to have self-believe, imbibe the spirit of endurance, positive ambition and contentment. It is only through such that they can become role models and great achievers whose lives would be as worth celebrating as mine and other great Edo citizens seated here I thank you all for this memorable event and wish you a safe journey back to your destinations.