By Eric Elezuo

The ancient community of Ihievbe, in Owan East Local Government of Edo State was on lockdown Sunday as presidential aspirant and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Aare Dele Momodu made a return to his hometown 49 years after the death of his father, Obo Momodu.

The tumultuous crowd that stepped out to receive the illustrious son, who had traversed through time and space, thick and thin to conquer his field of endeavour, was excited to just catch a glimpse of their own.

Accompanied by his beautiful wife, Mobolaji, and a host of entourage, Momodu made a stop over at the home of Senator Yisa Buraimah, who facilitated the homecoming, where he was reunited with his age mates, the Umalame Age Grade, as a prelude to his total acceptance back to the community and among his kindred.

Speaking on behalf of the age grade, while receiving Momodu into their fold,t chairman, Yesuf Tijani, announced that the worthy entrepreneur and accomplished journalist was well accepted, promising him all the privileges and rights of membership. He said the group was proud to have a man of his calibre as their member.

He was thereafter initiated and robed in the attire of the age grade to the admiration of all present.

In his remarks, the host, Senator Buraimah, who doubles as the Seriki Musulumi of the community, confirmed and described the homecoming of Momodu as a symbol of the prayers said for the sons and daughters of the community in the Diaspora to come home.

Responding, an emotional Momodu, who was practically overwhelmed by the show of love and massive reception giving to him by his people, thanked members of the community, and his age group members in particular, saying he had wished his father was alive to witness the joy of the day

“As you can see, I am not a lost child. See the way I returned home triumphant. I cried at this, and I know I will still cry. And again, I wished my father was alive to see this day,” he said.

The homecoming train thereafter moved to Momodu’s place of birth, Ugba village, where another unprecedented number of persons were waiting to catch a glimpse of the accomplished presidential hopeful.

Welcoming him, the village head, Mr. Rufus Aigbevbole noted that it was a rare privilege to have the person of Momodu’s status to come from the village. He informed that though it had been easy for Momodu to come home all these while, he was given a native name Ovbare by his grandfather, which means ‘coming home is worth it’, stressing that the name has been fulfilled by the actions of the day.

Expressing their profound gratitude at reuniting with their son, the villages showered gifts on Momodu including yams, plantains and livestock.

At the palace of the Paramount ruler of the community, where Momodu paid homage, he was honoured with a chieftaincy title as the haihai if the community.

In his speech, Momodu recounted his journey of 62 years, declaring that by the time the 50th anniversary of his father’s death is celebrated, he would have been the president, commander in chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces.

“I don’t want to be a senator; I don’t want to be a minister – I’m not interested. All I want to be is the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

The homecoming was graced by notable citizens of the community and the rank and file of the PDP in the senatorial zone.

Momodu, who first declared his Intention to be president shortly after joining the PDP insisted that he remained the most qualified among those aspiring to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2023.

He noted that his presidential ambition is a function of the fact that though he had never been an elected official, he has a private individual interacted with the high and mighty of the world including presidents, opinion leaders and eminent personalities across the globe.

“I reached out to many without being a president. Now, I can actualise much more when I occupy the position,” he said.