By Tony Osauzo, Benin
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has acknowledged his electoral victory at the September 2024 governorship election as a mandate from God to bring development and progress to Edo State.
The governor gave the acknowledgement while addressing worshippers at Streams of Joy International, Abuja, on Sunday.
Expressing appreciation to God for his electoral victory, Governor Okpebholo stressed that his emergence as the Chief Executive of Edo State was divinely orchestrated by God as an answer to the prayers and yearnings of Edo people for development and progress.
The Governor, while thanking the convener of the New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations (NSPPD) and Lead Pastor of the church, Pastor Jerry Eze, for his prayers and support during the elections, said he will be a good ambassador of the church by bringing unprecedented development and economic growth to Edo State.
“I have come to return all the glory to God for the electoral victory He gave to me during the last election. In 2023, I was here to testify as a Senator. Today, I am here again to testify as a Governor. When I wanted to join the race for the primaries, I came here, and I told Pastor my intention. He prayed for me and asked me to go and contest.
“I did, and although the journey was tough, I emerged victorious, and today, I am the Governor of Edo State. I see my becoming Governor as a divine mandate to serve and bring development to the people. And I am here today to assure you, my brethren, that I will not disappoint the God of NSPPD,” Governor Okpebholo declared.
Admonishing the worshippers to be steadfast and committed in their walk of faith, the Governor stressed that power comes from God alone, who gives it to whoever He wishes for His own glory. He advised that such power must be seen as an opportunity to serve and fulfil God’s purpose and emphasised that, as a faithful and grateful steward, he was committed to utilising the God-given mandate to better the lives of Edo people.
Governor Okpebholo, a man referred to in many quarters as “a man of uncommon grace,” came into partisan politics in the early 2020s. He made headlines when he miraculously defeated the incumbent Senator of the Edo Central Senatorial District and ended the PDP’s 24-year dominance in the region on his very first attempt.
On September 21st, 2024, he again halted the PDP’s reign in Edo State by defeating the ruling party’s candidate in the governorship election and emerging as Governor of Edo State.