BENIN CITY – The Association of Igie- Ohen in Benin Kingdom has described the Governorship Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his running-mate, Hon. Philip Shaibu as square pegs in square holes.
This was when members of the association paid a courtesy visit to Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in Government House, Benin City Tuesday.
Delivering the address of the Association, the Secretary, High Priest Osarumwense Amayo said, “Your Excellency sir on the caliber of your party’s governorship candidate and his running-mate, they are seen to be square pegs in square holes.”
According to the Association, “To us members of Igie Ohen we have absolute confidence that they can equally achieve greatness to the level you have embedded in the state or even surpass the achievements that have been laid down by you if they are eventually become the governor and deputy after the election. Your Excellency sir, we have a common adage in Benin which says if a child achieved greatness above his or her parents it is not a curse or better still not a taboo to them.”
“We as a body are totally convinced that these children of yours are well nurtured by your articulated and good sense of leadership, selfless service, sincerity, honesty and purpose of adherence to the rule of law. In addition, allowing the people to lead as to credit you sir of being the advocate. The slogan now is a house-hold song in the entire country Nigeria. Your Excellency sir, we pray Almighty Allah to guide, protect you and your entire family and by extension lead you to all future endeavous. Thank you sir and God bless.
On the forth-coming governorship election, he said, “As for the election coming in few days time, we want to assure you that all will be well in the entire state.”
Lauding the Governor on his infrastructural development, the High Priest said, “Sir, though we are not politicians, we are totally overwhelmed with the rate of development visible throughout the entire state.”
Responding, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshimhole said, “I am very very grateful to you Chairman of the Igie Ohen Association. I want to thank you for your support for my person, for my family and for the government and for your prayers over the eight years. Every year you have come to offer prayers and it is obvious that God has answered your prayers otherwise I will not be here. I have met with you in the other smaller exco chambers. My first meeting was before we renovated the office and you have been consistent in your prayers for good governance, for development of this kingdom and for my good health and wellbeing. May God continue to bless you, uplift you, bless you, give you good health, long life and uplift your children to a higher higher level. I also want to thank you for endorsing our candidate, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki and you said it all what I believe I owe Edo people is to ensure that. Having supported me in the fight to reposition our state and rescue it from those who were sucking it dry and with your prayers all their evil machinations have not succeeded. I think, beginning with the unqualified support I received from His Royal Omo N ’Oba N ‘Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Erediauwa of blessed memory. Long live the king. Long live the Edaiken.”
According to the Governor, “I have won election in every ward in Benin Kingdom and if the people of this great kingdom have given me such support, I owe them, not just the obligation of continuing to do my best up to the last day to ensure that the development of this state is not put on hold, I also believe my party the APC and my humble self, we owe the people of this state and of this kingdom a governor that we know, we are convinced, will do even much much better than myself. If we don’t do that as they say it may have taken seven and half years to re-build the foundation of Edo State, it may not require seven hours to bring it down if the wrong people take over the house, God forbid and I remember very well on occasion like this the immortal words of His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin who has joined his ancestors recently and these were words he spoke publicly at his palace when he asked the Odionwere of Benin, the Esongban of Benin Kingdom, Chief Edebiri to speak on behalf of the palace the day I went to present myself to him for a second term, the Oba said and I will never forget if you have one of your children, you entrust him with the management of your family house to protect the house to develop it and make it comfortable for all the members of the family and at old age and I guess he was referring to the fact of his own age then, you watch helplessly, this your, otherwise, son brining down the edifice not only removing the roof but digging the foundation that the house is almost collapsing, then you offered prayers to your ancestors to bring someone who will help to re-build the family house and the ancestors sent someone. God sent someone to re-build the house that this other son has destroyed and every can see the house getting better. They have re-roofed it. They are now redecorating and that your son says people say drive away that son with his team. He said no father will do that and that was why they gave me all the unqualified support. I believe those words are more valid now.
Yes, we have re-built the house but it has not be completed. It’s looking much much better than before but there is much more work to be done. So the choice is who can help us continue with the re-building of this family edifice? I think that is what this election is about and that is why our slogan is consolidation of what we have already done and taking Edo to the next level higher than where we are today.”
“May the Almighty God and our ancestors accept your prayers for me, for the government and our candidate and may your declaration of support translates to victory on September 28 and it’s just a few days away and I know that when you pronounce like that, the time the gods and the ancestors ensured that it came to pass. This one again by the special grace of God will again come to pass and Godwin knows he has to perform above my level so that our dream for a greater Edo will be realized. Thank you very much,” he concluded.
