Creation of the Mid Western Region in 1963.

The agitation for the creation of the West Central Region began in 1948 with the creation of the Benin Community under the leadership of Oba Akenzua II of Benin. The organization calls for the creation of the Benin Delta region or Central-West region.  On June 14, 1955, a member of the then Action Group of the Western Region Legislative Assembly, the Hon  MS Sowole, moved a motion at a meeting of the House of Representatives.

The motion entitled “Establishment of a separate  state  for the  provinces of  Benin and  Delta” was  supported by  the  Minister of State JG Ako. The conclusion is:

“I beg to move that this house prays Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom to make necessary constitutional arrangements at the proposed conference for a separate state of Benin and Delta provinces.”

This motion, which responded to the wishes of the main leaders of Benin and Delta provinces, gave the issue a kind of legislative recognition. The motivation behind the motion, which was moved by a Yoruba lawmaker in the House of Representatives, has been subject to various interpretations.

The 1960 constitution required that a referendum to decide support for a new region had to be passed by a two-thirds majority in the federal House of Representatives and the Senate, and then by a two-thirds majority in the federal House of Representatives and the Senate. the Federal House of Representatives and the Senate. the regions.

Festus Okotie-Eboh and his mentor Humphrey Omo-Osagie were aware of the key role that the ruling party in the federal government in Lagos would play in initiating any legislative move towards the creation of the Midwest, thereby putting pressure on northern leaders . .

Eventually, Festus Okotie-Eboh almost single-handedly got Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu and Alhaji Ahmadu Bello of the NPC to agree in principle to make an exception for the Mid-west based on its unique history, knowing they were generally opposed to States creation.

Without this crucial achievement on the part of Chief Okotie-Eboh, the creation of the Mid-western Region would have been dead in the water. It was in recognition of this strategic feat that Festus Okotie-Eboh was given a chieftaincy title in Benin, the Elaba of Uselu.

However, on the 4th of April, 1961, the federal House of Representatives unanimously endorsed the demand of the people of Mid-West areas for a separate region of their own which was eventually created (through a referendum) on August 9, 1963 from Benin and Delta provinces of the Western Region. Benin City was chosen as its capital.

On August 12, 1963, Chief Dennis Osadebay, then President of the Senate, was appointed Administrator of the Midwest Region. He and his new administrative team arrived in Benin from Lagos via Ibadan on Saturday, August 17 to resume their duties.

The residents of the region rejoiced, festivals were organized and traditional dances were performed to celebrate the victory.

The First Cabinet Members of the Mid-Western Region, 1964