By joshua 
Ex-Deputy Speaker, Oligbi-Edeko
Urges Government To Prioritize Elderly Care.
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
The immediate past Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and current member representing Esan North-East II Constituency, Rt. Hon. (Mrs.) Maria Omozele Oligbi-Edeko, Esq., has called on governments at all levels to develop robust and inclusive policies for the care of the elderly similar to systems in place in more developed countries.
Mrs. Oligbi-Edeko made the appeal while receiving members of the Elderly Persons Association of Nigeria (EPAN), who paid her a courtesy visit at her office in the Edo State House of Assembly Complex, Benin City.
She pledged to work with her colleagues in the House to revive and pass into law a policy she initiated during her tenure as Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development one designed specifically to protect and support the elderly in areas such as healthcare, social protection and free transportation.
“I recall during my time as Commissioner, I worked on a policy for the elderly. What I intend to do now is to sit down with my colleagues and explore how we can bring that policy back this time, to make it a law,” she said.
“The policy includes many beneficial provisions for the elderly citizens. For instance, in public transportation, there would be reserved seats for the elderly. By God’s grace, I’ll champion this in the house.”
Addressing concerns about health risks, Mrs. Oligbi-Edeko warned elderly citizens against the use of unregulated herbal mixtures (“agbo”) often sold by street vendors, noting that many contain dangerous substances.
“Everywhere you turn, people are selling all sorts of so-called herbal remedies. They claim it’s ‘agbo’, but in reality, many of these mixtures are laced with harmful drugs.
” They can damage the kidney, liver, and lead to premature death or even mental illness,” she cautioned.
She emphasized that old age is a blessing, not a curse, and encouraged the elderly to utilize primary healthcare centers provided by the government rather than relying on potentially harmful alternatives.
“Old age is not a curse, nor is it a disease. It’s a time to rest, to enjoy life with your children, grandchildren, and community. That’s how it should be,” she affirmed.
During the event, the Honourable member expressed appreciation to Bishop Matthew Okpebholo for his humanitarian gesture in building a geriatric clinic at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), designed specifically for the care of the elderly patients.
Earlier in the visit, the President of the Edo State chapter of the Elderly Persons Association, Hon. Ogbomo, briefed Mrs. Oligbi-Edeko on the association’s progress. He reported that they have successfully appointed coordinators across all 18 local government areas of the state.
He also revealed that the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Benin City has approved a specialized clinic to treat elderly patients suffering from conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, and anemia.
The highlight of the visit was the formal installation of Rt. Hon. (Mrs.) Maria Omozele Oligbi-Edeko as Patron of the Elderly Persons Association of Nigeria, Edo State Chapter. An honour received with loud cheers and heartfelt appreciation from attendees.