Okpebholo and Idahosa
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State on Tuesday dismissed speculated gulf between him and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa by some of their supporters, stating that he has confidence in him and they have been working together in harmony.
Governor Okpebholo stated that every decision he took had always been in consultation with his deputy.
Okpebholo cleared the air at a thanksgiving service held at the Living Faith Church on Adesuwa Grammar School Road, Benin City, to mark Idahosa’s 45th birthday which had in attendance several political bigwigs in the state.
The governor also revealed how he had told Idahosa when they met for the first time at the lobby of the Transcorps Hilton in Abuja that he would be his deputy and “the word of the prophet has come to pass today.”
Governor Okpebholo said, “I have absolute confidence in him, and we have been working very closely. We take decisions together. When you hear Akpakorescue, there is an inside discussion before we execute. Before we execute anything, we discuss and agree and sometimes he will tell me, remember where we are coming from, remember your ways; so, I see him as a partner and I believe in him.
“By the grace of God, I still believe that God is going to take him higher than this. I want to say a big congratulations to him and the grace of God will continue to rest upon him.”
In his remarks, the celebrant recalled how he struggled in his early life after the painful death of his father when he was just six years old. He attributed his political successes to the grace of God when he was appointed Commissioner at the age of 34.
He said the challenges he faced while growing up spurred his philanthropic gesture to empower women and youths.
According to him, “My father died when I was just six years old. It was my mother that stood by all of us.”
A former Secretary to the Edo State Government, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, praised Idahosa’s humility.
Ize-Iyamu described him as a politician of strong will. “I will describe him with the experience I had with him. When I approached him to support former President Goodluck Jonathan, he said he cannot remain with the Edo State Government as a Commissioner and support the PDP. He had to resign his appointment to support Jonathan.”
Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, under whose administration Idahosa served as Commissioner, said it was his former Deputy, Pius Odubu, that said Idahosa would be an asset to his administration.
Oshiomhole said that next Saturday’s by-election is a must win to reaffirm the confidence Edo people have on Governor Monday Okpebholo.
He said the emergence of Barr. Omosede Igbinedion as the APC candidate for Ovia Federal Constituency was a challenge to the women to do justice to one of their own.