Dr. Thomas Attah: A Man Of Conviction, And A True Friend Of Esanland

By Engr. Oaikhena Osemeikhian Elijah A.K.A the Agbadikan 1 of Esan land
Dr. Thomas Attah is a name that will forever be etched in the annals of Edo Stateโs political history, not merely for his convictions but for his audacity to stand firm when others wavered, to speak up when silence seemed the easier path, and to champion a cause that, by every superficial consideration, was not his to champion.
A son of Ososo in Akoko-Edo, he had no direct lineage to Esanland, no immediate stake in the agitation for political equity that would see the emergence of an Esan governor. Yet, his sense of justice, his firm belief in fairness, and his understanding that no society succeeds on lopsided power dynamics propelled him to become the single most resolute voice in the earliest days of the Esan agenda.
At a time when the political climate of Edo State was clouded with uncertainty, when the debate over which senatorial district should produce the next governor was still shrouded in cautious whispers, Dr. Attah did not merely murmur in agreementโhe declared it outright.
With the clarity and conviction of a man possessed by an unshakable belief in justice, he was the first to chart the course, boldly asserting that power, in the spirit of fairness and stability, must return to Esanland.
His pronouncement was neither a self-serving political calculation nor a perfunctory statement designed to appease a particular bloc; it was a call to conscience, a demand for equity, and an insistence that Edoโs political balance must not be distorted by parochial interests.
Words, however, would not have sufficed to tilt the scales. The battle for Esanโs rightful place in the stateโs political hierarchy required more than advocacy; it demanded strategy, diplomacy, and the ability to unify voices that, despite their shared ancestry, often spoke in discordant tones.
With a profound understanding of the traditional institutionโs role in shaping Edoโs sociopolitical trajectory, Dr. Attah embarked on what many deemed an impossible missionโbringing together all the traditional rulers of Esanland to forge a collective stance on the matter.
A task that had eluded many before him became a reality through his sheer force of will, as he navigated the intricate web of royal politics and historical considerations to ensure that, for the first time in contemporary history, the revered custodians of Esan culture spoke in one voice on the need for power to return to their people.
Even this monumental feat, however, would have remained incomplete had it not received the endorsement of the highest traditional authority in Edo State.
Understanding that any movement lacking the blessing of the Oba of Benin would struggle to gain the necessary legitimacy, Dr. Attah ensured that the Esan royal fathers collectively sought the support of the revered monarch.
The significance of this diplomatic achievement cannot be overstated, for it marked a turning pointโwhat was once an agitation now bore the stamp of cultural and historical legitimacy, a cause validated not only by Esanโs traditional custodians but also by the paramount authority of the Benin Kingdom.
Yet, true movements do not flourish behind closed doors, nor do they achieve momentum through the deliberations of elites alone. The people, the electorate whose voices form the backbone of democracy, had to be awakened, informed, and mobilized.
Understanding this, Dr. Attah took his advocacy beyond the confines of palatial meetings and strategic consultations, carrying the Esan agenda into the heart of public discourse.
He took to Radio Nigeria, one of the most influential media platforms in the region, where, with eloquence and an unassailable command of logic, he articulated the inevitability of Esanโs ascension to power.
โDemocracy is meaningless without equity,โ he asserted in one of his broadcasts, โand no society can lay claim to fairness when power remains the perpetual preserve of a select few.โ His voice reverberated across airwaves, reaching towns, villages, and cities, galvanizing support and solidifying a movement that had long been fragmented by skepticism and inertia.
The impact of his efforts is now written in history. What once seemed like an uphill battle fraught with resistance and political machinations has today become an undeniable realityโEsan has reclaimed its place at the helm of Edoโs political leadership.
And while many will claim credit, those who understand the true intricacies of this battle know that Dr. Attahโs unbending advocacy was the bedrock upon which this success was built.
It is therefore only fitting that his extraordinary contributions are being recognized in a manner befitting his stature.
An e-flyer of the conferment of chieftaincy title on Dr. Thomas Attah
His Royal Highness, the Onojie of Ekpoma Kingdom, in acknowledgment of his sacrifices, has deemed him worthy of a chieftaincy titleโa validation of the fact that true honour is earned not through personal ambition but through selfless service to a people whose cause one has chosen to uphold.
As a son of Esanland and a firm believer in justice, I, Engr. Oaikhena Osemeikhian Elijah, known as the Agbadikan 1 of Esanland, find it both a privilege and a duty to celebrate a man whose actions exemplify the highest ideals of leadership and integrity.
Dr. Thomas Attah is not just an ally of the Esan people; he is, by every measure of commitment and sacrifice, one of us. His story is a proof to the fact that greatness is not defined by where one is born but by what one stands for.
As history continues its unrelenting march forward, let it never be forgotten that when the call for justice was sounded in Edo State, one manโagainst the odds, above self-interest, and beyond the barriers of ethnic delineationโstood, spoke, and ensured that fairness prevailed.
A fact I know for sure is that his name will be forever spoken with the reverence it so rightly deserves and that his new title will perpetually serve as a great reminder that true greatness is in selfless service to others.
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