FORMER EDO SSG, IMUEKEMHE DIES @ 66 —He Was A Very Good Man, Says Oshiomhole

Former Head of Service and Secretary to Edo State Government, Dr Simeon Imoukemhe is dead.

Dr. Imoukemhe died on Wednesday night at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) after a protracted illness.

Dr. Imoukemhe was an accomplished bureacrat and a Medic who will be surely missed for his candor, brilliance and exceptional character.

He rose through the ranks in the public service of the State and contributed immensely to its development trajectory.

Meanwhile, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has mourned the passing of the state’s former Head of Service (HoS) and Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Simon Omoaka Imuekemhe.

In a statement, the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., said “The Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has received with deep shock, the news of the death of a one-time Head of Service and Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Simon Omoaka Imuekemhe, KSM, FNIM (JP).

“Dr. Simon Imuekemhe joined the then Bendel State Public Service in 1988 as a Consultant Pediatrician. He held several positions in the Hospitals Management Board and was appointed Permanent Secretary in 1999.

“Dr. Imuekemhe was Head of the Edo State Civil Service from 2005-2011 when he retired from the Civil Service. He was appointed Secretary to the State Government in 2011, a position he held till November, 2012.

“Edo State Government mourns the loss of an Administrative Colossus, who impacted positively on all spheres of Public Service having served the State under four (4) Military Administrators and three (3) Civilian Governors.

“Our deep and sincere condolences go to his wife, children, the entire Imuekemhe family, the Public Service and the good people of Edo State.

“May the good Lord grant us the fortitude to bear this huge loss,” Ogie added.

But former governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, on Thursday, expressed shock over the death of a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Simon Imuekemhe, describing him as a very good man.

Oshiomhole, the immediate past National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), in a statement, said he was saddened by Imuekemhe’s death.

“Imuekemhe was a very good man; an outstanding personality who had an excellent career in public service.

“He contributed immensely to the many successes recorded by my administration as governor of Edo, by tirelessly offering his expertise and vast experience whenever he was called upon to serve.

“A medical doctor-turned-technocrat, Imuekemhe learned the ropes of the civil service, made a career out of it and excelled beyond expectations.

“His uncommon abilities propelled him to the highest career position as the head of service and subsequently as secretary to the state government,” he said.

Oshiomhole added that even after his retirement, Imuekemhe still remained a highly sought-after personality, volunteering his knowledge in support of the system whenever his services were needed.

“It is noteworthy that he worked assiduously to introduce several far-reaching institutional reforms into the Edo civil service, which enhanced productivity and afforded substantial benefits to the state workforce.

“As secretary to the government during my first tenure as governor, he understood my vision and immediately keyed into it.

“His loyalty and commitment to this vision was never in doubt and coupled with his courage, boldness, intellectual depth, honesty, managerial capacity and experience, we were able to achieve so much in such a short period of time,” he said.

While urging the Imuekemhe family to be consoled with the fact that the deceased lived an exemplary life, Oshiomhole condoled with the Ikabigbo community in Etsako West Local Government area, Afemai land and the people of Edo for the loss.

Recall that Imuekemhe, served as head of service and SSG under the Oshiomhole-led administration.

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