Prince Ogiri Ajene was born in 1956 into a legacy of leadership, a child of two royal houses. His father was HRH Agabaidu Abraham Ajene Okpabi, the revered Och’Idoma II, and his mother was Princess Comfort, daughter of HRH Ogiri Oko, the first Och’Idoma. Yet, from this cradle of dual nobility, a remarkable paradox emerged: a prince who found his truest purpose not in the isolation of royalty, but in the humble service of the common people.
Educated at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the University of Jos, where he earned two Master’s degrees in Political Science, he deliberately chose the path of public service. For thirteen dedicated years, he served within the Benue State and Federal civil service, demonstrating an uncommon work ethic and an open-door policy that welcomed all, long before his name entered the political arena.
His political journey began in earnest in 1992 when he was elected to the House of Representatives, only to be interrupted by military rule. With the return of democracy, his steadfastness and integrity found a natural home in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In 1999, he was elected Deputy Governor of Benue State, serving two terms under Governor George Akume. Far from being a ceremonial “spare tyre,” Prince Ajene was a trusted right hand—diligent, loyal, and entrusted with high-profile responsibilities, a testament to the deep confidence he inspired.
However, the true measure of the man was revealed not in the height of his office, but in the depth of his humility. In an act unprecedented in Nigerian political history, upon completing his tenure as Deputy Governor, he returned to the grassroots to contest and win a councillorship seat in his Obarike-Ito ward. He refused the salary for the role, proving his service was a calling, not a career. In another poignant moment, he publicly prostrated before a succeeding governor to thank him for bringing electricity to a long-neglected community—a gesture of profound humility and selfless accountability to the Igede people he loved.
He used his influence not for personal grandeur, but to empower the obscure, elevate communities, and insist on equity through zoning. He became the respected political lodestar of the Igede Nation, a figure whose counsel was sought and whose legacy is one of bridge-building.
He passed away on April 19, 2013, in London, and was laid to rest in his beloved Adum-East. More than a prince, more than a deputy governor, Prince (Dr.) Ogiri Ajene was, at his core, a servant. His life teaches that true nobility is not in the title one inherits, but in the dignity one bestows upon others, and in the courageous choice to serve at any level, for the goo