Edo 2024: Fr. Obinyan Joins Gov’ship Race
…Says I’m Here To Serve Not To Be Served
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
The Parish Priest of Saint Francis Catholic Church, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Andrew Obinyan says he has decided to join Edo 2024 governorship race to heed the call and pressure by diverse group and notable personalities in the state and beyond.
Dr. Obinyan disclosed this while addressing journalists at the Conference Hall of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), Edo State Council secretariat, Benin City, state capital today, Monday, 18th December, 2023.
He pointed out that as a Catholic priest, he is trained and equipped to serve adding that he is ready to serve the good people of Edo State.
According to the Esan South-East Local Government born catholic priest, “I received series of calls from well-meaning Edo people and Nigerians across party lines beckoning on me to contest the forthcoming governorship election in our dear state. After very extensive consultation and consideration, I am pleased to inform you that I am giving Edo people and members of the movement an affirmative gesture. I have considered it, and I am very much available and ready to serve.
“As a priest, I am trained and equipped to serve and not to be served.”
The Catholic clergy is, however, yet to disclose the political party on which he wants to run the governorship race.
Also speaking, a Leader of Fr. Obinyan Movement, Jude Aigbona said after being governed by politicians and technocrats, Edo people should give the priest a chance to govern the state, adding that Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Andrew Obinyan is a tested and trusted servant.
While noting that the youths in Edo plan to embark on a mass movement for the Rev. Fr. Obinyan, he called on the big political parties to give their gubernatorial ticket to Rev. Fr. Andrew Obiyan ahead the Edo 2024 governorship election.
Agbona assured that with the Catholic Priest, Edo State will experience a total turn around like a new creature.
“We intend to run a mass movement, a movement that will reshape Edo State; a movement that will give us a new hope in Edo State.
“Edo have seen it all. We have seen technocrats rule us, we have seen politicians rule us, so let us try a man of God. A man who is ready to serve us wholeheartedly so that Edo will be a new state; a new creature that other states will want to emulate.”
Also speaking, another member of the movement, Basil Ogwu, said: “This movement cuts across all party lines. We didn’t just come to support him, but after much consultation, we discovered that he is credible. We have tried different kinds of people, but this time around, we want to give it to a religious leader.”
It would be recalled that there have been reported calls and appeals from notable Edo indigenes across the country and the Diaspora to Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Andrew Obinyan to join the 2024 Edo Governorship race.
