The Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo on Tuesday denied rift between him and his deputy as being insinuated by some of their supporters as he said every decision he takes as governor is always in consultation with his deputy.
Okpebholo stated this at a thanksgiving service in church to mark Idahosa’s 45th birthday in Benin City.
The service, which was held at the Living Faith Church in Adesuwa, had several top political bigwigs in the state in attendance.
The governor also revealed that the first time they met at the lobby of the Transcorps Hilton in Abuja, he told him that he would be his deputy and “the word of the prophet has come to pass today.”
He 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.”
Speaking, the celebrant, Idahosa 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 that 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 the humility of Idahosa.
He described Idahosa 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 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.
