By Chris Osa Nehikhare
Chief Daniel Osikheme Orbih was born on the 27th of October, 1961 to Chief and Mrs. M.C.K. Orbih of Ogbona in Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State.
Chief Orbih attended the Catholic Central School, Afashio for his primary education and Our Lady of Fatima College Auchi. For the General Certificate of Education, Advanced Level, he attended the Advanced College, Igueben before entering the University of Benin in 1981, where he obtained the B.A. (HONS) degree in History in 1984.
After his National Youth Service Corp, he served as Executive Director, Hill Top Hotel Ltd., Auchi. Convinced that the future belonged to young men who have the courage to step out into the world to fashion out a living for themselves rather than bask in the more secure warmth of family achievement and legacy, Dan as a young graduate joined Denny Micky & Co Ltd. in 1988 and became its Operations Manager. In 1990, he became the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company, a position which he still occupies till today.
Chief Dan Osi Orbih is the Chairman of several business concerns including but not limited to real estate investments, importation and supply of cement and chemicals to Oil and Construction companies in Nigeria. Chief Orbih bagged a Certification in International Petroleum Management, Eni, Rome, Italy in 2006 and also a Certification in Corporate Leadership, Harvard Business School, Boston, Massachusetts in 2007.
In spite of his prodigious success in business which brought him wealth, social status, and respect in business circles in Nigeria and Overseas, Chief Dan Osi Orbih has kept a cool head as well as other praiseworthy attributes of humility, versatility, considerable maturity, approachability, simplicity and sound judgment.
He is indisputably a very responsible, dynamic, resourceful and responsive individual whose horizon and ambition are ever shifting. It is a reflection of the sterling qualities of the man, who, within a short space of time, made giant strides in industry and commerce that today, Chief Dan Osi Orbih stands tall and is one of the most respected names in the business and political community at home and abroad.
In recognition of his worthy contribution to humanity, he has been bestowed with the prestigious titles of :
- The Kulukulu 1. of Ogoni Land.
- The Oduma of Uzairue
- The Agbokhaivho the 2nd of Avianwu clan
- Enakhaimhoi of Anegbete.
- Esama of Uromi
- Eze Oha 1 of Mburubu.
Chief Dan Orbih has served as Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Group Board as well as member, Governing Council , University of Port Harcourt. He has also at various times served on committees at both the state and national levels of his party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He was the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the APP in Edo state in 1999.
As Chairman, Edo State PDP since 2011 to 2020, he was the most active and constructive opposition chairman in Nigeria. It would not be forgotten in a hurry how Chief Orbih led the famous protest by Edo State citizens to Lagos against the decision of the Edo State government to sell the Edo House, and later instituted a legal action to stop its sale. Today, thanks to the leadership of Chief Orbih, Edo House still remains the property of the people of Edo State. He has also demonstrated that oppositional politics should not necessarily mean divisive politics.
In spite of his business success story, Chief Orbih, who is a devout Catholic and a member of the Knights of St. Mulumba, has maintained sound moral principles and remained faithful to business ethics. He was recently elevated to the Elite “donor” status of Rotary International.
Chief Orbih, with his sharp, witty and constructive criticism of government, both as a State Chairman and more recently as Ag.National Vice Chairman, South-South Zone, has redefined opposition politics in a way that should positively benefit all democracy stakeholders across the country. Even though he was and is irritating to those in government, he positively positioned the PDP in Edo State not just to keep the state administration on its toes but to make it the beautiful bride in Edo politics.
When a widow and a street-seller in Benin was humiliatingly asked by the ‘high and mighty’ to “go and die”, it was Chief Orbih that beamed the searchlight and brought global attention to her plight. Cutting through Chief Orbih’s politics, therefore, have been the elements of compassion, empathy and defense of the oppressed. Chief Orbih is a democrat, and a consistent advocate of good governance.
In the heat of the first wave of the herdsmen menace in Edo State, Chief Orbih Sponsored a bill to prohibit open grazing in Edo Sate, a bill he presented to the Edo State House of Assembly. Given the apprehension of many people in Edo State on the activities of the herdsmen, it was no surprise that the proposal was largely welcomed by citizens of the state irrespective of political party affiliation.
South-South Zone surely needs the likes of Chief Dan Orbih, to keep a recalcitrant, non- responsive and corrupt government in check.
A completely detribalized Nigerian, Chief Orbih is married to Mrs. Florence Orbih, nee Okiyo, from Isokoland in Delta State. They are blessed with two children Winifred and Mildred Orbih.
Chief Orbih is an avid reader and an enthusiastic squash player, who loves traveling, music and football.
