Introduction

Agadaga Benson Sunday is a Nigerian politician who is the former Chief of Staff to Bayelsa’s Governor Douye Diri, and he was once the HON Commissioner of the ministry of information, culture, tourism, and permanent secretary of Bayelsa State Post Primary Schools Board (1999-2000), among others.

Profile

D.O.B – 12 June, 1956

Place of birth

State of Origin – Bayelsa State

Tribe – Urhobo

Nationality – Nigerian

Occupation – Politician

Religion – Christianity

Net Worth – $1 Million.

Spouse – Mrs Regina Apuega Agadaga

Parents – Chief Sunday Ebenezer Agadaga and Mrs. Virginia Erenimugha Agadaga

Education

St. Luke School, Ologoghe (1961-1967)

St. Michael High School Oloibiri (1969-1970)

Mater Dei High School, Imirigingi (1971-1975)

Rivers State College of Education Portharcourt (1976-1979)

Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (1981-1983)

University of Calabar (1998-2000)

Federal University of Technology Owerri (2001-2004)

MBA – Post graduate diploma in Human Resources MGT (2006)

Career

Agadaga Benson served as Principal at C.S.S Kolo from 1988 to 1993, at GGS Ukubie from 1995 to 1996, and at C.S.S. Zarama from 1996 to 1998. He was a former Chief of Staff to Bayelsa’s Governor Douye Diri, and he was a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, under Mr. Paul Oriewari as the Honourable Commissioner.

As the pioneer Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, he worked tirelessly to ensure that the staff of the Ministry still hanging in Port Harcourt after the creation of Bayelsa State, relocated to Yenagoa, and got settled for serious business.

Controversies

Vijah Eldred Opuama filed a 30 billion naira lawsuit against Benson Agadaga and IGP for unlawfully detaining him. Vijah Eldred Opuama was arrested on 15th August 2020 at the Bayelsa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting at Wuse Zone 6, Abuja.

Vijah Eldred Opuama was arrested on allegations that he recorded a phone call he received from Benson Agadaga. Vijah was detained and denied bail from 15th August 2020 to 10th September 2020 when the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ordered for release.

It will be recalled that Vijah Opuama has filed the election Petition seeking to disqualify and remove Governor Doue Diri of Bayelsa State from office. Vijah was arrested in the Tribunal and prevented from attending his own Tribunal matter. Agadaga Benson was controversial for this and people saw it as him doing evil.

Politics

Agadaga Benson’s Political life started in Kolo in 1989, when as the Principal of a Community Secondary School, in Kolo, Mrs. Faith Opuene introduced him to a political group known as Liberal Movement (LM), founded by Chief Michael Ibru.

Agadaga Benson Sunday was co-ordinating Ogbia with her until they had their first state congress in the then Rivers State on the 17th of June 1989 where Engr. N. Daye became the State Chairman and one Raymond Anyawanta was the Secretary. When the Federal Government abolished private parties and formed NRC and SDP as political parties, he deflected to NRC and initiated preparations to contest the gubernatorial election in Rivers State.

Agadaga Benson Sunday contested with Chief Zebulon Abule, Chief Pere-Ajua, Late Chief F. K. Agara, and others. When he received indications that an Okrika man was destined to rule, he started wondering because no candidate from Okrika was known to be in the race, he then decided to withdraw. Chief Abule and Pere-Ajua were causing waves and were at each other’s throats.

Many were living witnesses to the miracle that occurred at that time when finally, Abule took the flag of NRC, and Sgt. House succeeded in the SDP Preventive officer department of Customs & Excise, Port Harcourt (1975-1976). Agadaga Benson Sunday was also once the Principal of Governments Secondary School, Ogbia Town (1980-1981) Principal C.S.S, Okoroma1984-1988) Principal C.S.S, Kolo1988-1993) Assistant Director Zonal Post Primary Schools Boards, Ogbia Town.

Agadaga Benson was also the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information, Culture, Tourism, Youths And Sports, Bayelsa State.1998-1999) Permanent Secretary Bayelsa State Post Primary Schools Board 1999-2000 ) Secretary Bayelsa State Post Primary Schools Board 2000-2003) Hon. Commissioner Ministry of Information, Culture & Tourism, Bayelsa State. 2003-2004 Executive Chairman Universal Basic Education Board, Okolobiri, Bayelsa State. Agadaga Benson was the special adviser to the Governor of Bayelsa State.