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From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City was filled to capacity as renowned gospel ministers celebrated gospel artistes and thousands of worshippers converged for the maiden edition of the Edo Praise Festival, organised to celebrate Governor Monday Okpebholo’s second anniversary in office.
The event attracted prominent gospel personalities, including the founder of Living Word Conquerors Global Assembly, Bishop David Abioye; Apostle Johnson Suleman; gospel music sensation Frank Edwards; Chinyere Udoma, popularly known as Chinyere Jesus; and several indigenous gospel artistes from Edo State.
Other prominent Christian leaders, including Charles Osadiaye, were also in attendance, joining other ministers of God to make the festival a memorable celebration of praise, worship and thanksgiving.
Governor Okpebholo and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, joined the congregation in offering praises and thanksgiving to God for the achievements recorded by the administration.
Speaking as the guest preacher, Bishop Abioye commended Governor Okpebholo for what he described as purposeful leadership, noting that his administration had placed Edo State on a path of development and transformation in the last two years.
Preaching on the theme, “Ebenezer: The Lord Has Helped Us,” the cleric applauded the governor for placing God at the centre of his administration, attributing the successes recorded by the government to divine guidance and intervention. He said: “I appreciate the governor for touching the lives of Edo people, improving the state’s economy and spreading development and growth across the 18 local government areas.
“I want to thank you so much for allowing God to use you to develop the state, especially your intolerance of violence, crime, kidnapping, cultism and other forms of criminality across the state.”
Bishop Abioye further praised the governor for his transformational drive, which he said had positively changed the narrative of Edo people. He urged the governor and members of his cabinet to remain grateful to God, continually assess their developmental achievements and strive to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people.
The atmosphere at the stadium was electrifying as the invited gospel artistes and ministers took turns to minister in songs and the Word of God, captivating the audience with powerful performances and inspiring messages.
Addressing the enthusiastic crowd, Governor Okpebholo expressed appreciation to the people for turning out in large numbers, assuring them that their decision to gather and praise God would not be in vain. He declared that the walls of Jericho had fallen in the lives of the people and prayed for greater progress, prosperity and development in Edo State.
