Hon. Benedicta Ebuehi Prophesises Godwin Obaseki's Victory ...As she formally defects to PDP

By Suleiman Ugbokhe

Agenebode, the Headquarters of Etsako East local government area, was in a festive mood today as the Executive Chairman, Hon. (Mrs) Benedicta Ebuehi stormed the seaside town to formally defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

On hand to receive her were chieftains of the party, which included among others the local government party chairman, Hon. Vincent Ekpomoriri, Hon. Abass Jega, Mrs Florence Ogene, Dr. Tunde Ajie and many others.

Highpoint of the occasion which took place at the PDP Secretariat, after she had been formally welcomed into the PDP family was the draping of the Party bandana over her shoulders by Hon. (Barr.) Abass Jega.

Reminiscent of Jesus Christ preaching by the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4-5), the Executive Chairman of Etsako East local government area held her audience spellbound with her eloquence as she addressed them extemporaneously.

Perhaps, in other not to water down her message, it is better to let her sermon on "Godwin Obaseki and Philip Shaibu Project" follow as she delivered it:

Some people have criticised me on Facebook and social media that the former governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole worked for Ivie. Is it true? It is true. He worked very well for Ivie. He gave us good roads, jobs and opened our communities to develop. We never had roads prior to his coming and we are eternally grateful to him. He stands out and tall in our history.

But at the end of the day, this is a different political dispensation. Comrade told us about Obaseki that we should vote for Obaseki. And in recognition of what he (Comrade) did for our people, we toed the line.

So, where we are now, Obaseki is completing the first four years. It is very difficult for any person in authority, particularly in politics where we have tenure to complete the projects that he has in mind in four years. Governor Obaseki has revolutionised the Education sector, he developing infrastructure, roads and sports.

I consulted widely with my people, my constituents across the local government. And the result was that I should "Stay with Godwin Obaseki and Philip Shaibu..." And that is why I decided to pitch my tent with them.

Let us also not forget the spiritual angle to this. I am a highly spiritual woman. I don't take decisions that are life-changing lightly. I consulted with my God as well; I prayed to Him and I believe this is the direction He wants me to go.

I am standing here as a supporter of Godwin Obaseki and Philip Shaibu for the next four years. That is why my political destiny is now pitched with the PDP.

At the end of the day, I believe we are all answerable to God. At this juncture, let me say, I have a good father-daughter relationship with Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole. He remains my father and that relationship will not change. We remain father and daughter, he is a great father but for now, our political destinies have taken different turns. I believe that even my political father knows that there comes a time in a man's life or woman's life where you must embrace change. And that is where I stand right now.

I have never been in PDP. I was in APC or whatever became APC for 16 years.

This is the first time I am joining the PDP and I believe it is for good.

All of my life I have worked for the empowerment of humanity; for the growth of humanity.

I was a child-bride at 15. But I have come to realise that without God, no man can be anything.

It is not because I am beautiful; it is not because I am learned; not because I am righteous that God has taken me from a nobody to somebody today that I can sit on the same table with governors, with presidents and make decisions for people. It is not by my power. It is only God.

Therefore, I do not take life decisions lightly. From a child-bride who became a wife at 15, my destiny was truncated at a point. But it is popularly said that delay is not denial. I struggled through life, went to school and today I have a masters degree not because I am good but because of the grace of God that is upon me.

So, I do not take the decision to come to PDP lightly at all. It is a life-transforming decision. And as I said, I consulted widely. I believe this is the best way; this is the best for Etsako East. And I have bound my destiny with all of you here. I trust that we are on the right track.

Governor Obaseki promised that he would construct the road from Iddo, Okpella to Agenebode. I still believe that that promise is live; that that promise would be executed; that that promise would come to full manifestation.

I do not want anybody to regret. You may not see my councillors here, but at least, we have 70% of them in this project. The Vice Chairman, Secretary to the Council, Supervisors are in this project. They have done their own defection at their wards. I told them not to bother to come because of this social distancing, otherwise, if I had allowed people to come the way they wanted to come, the whole of this area will be overflowing with people. I had to deliberately stop people from coming to this event.

So, I want to thank you, those of you who have been in PDP, who had held forth even in opposition. Now, you are in position. The local government is now a PDP local government, therefore, you are now in position and APC is now in opposition.

I came with my body, my soul and my spirit to PDP. I am going to make sure that I do my best to make sure that PDP wins come September 19, 2020.

And that is not all. I heard what Dr. Ajie said when he was talking about the responsibilities of the local government chairman vis-a-vis the Party. It is true we are in a very difficult situation at the moment. We are struggling to pay salaries.

I come from an environment where people work and they get paid for their work. You should not owe anybody salary once they have completed the circle of work for the month.

Unfortunately, we are faced with several challenges. So, I can only do the best that I can. I will support the LGA; I will support our party.

And I will do my best to carry everybody along. I am excited and humbled at the prospect of being the leader of this party at the local government level as our leaders have said but it is not in my head because I have come to learn.

APC where I was before, we were doing things differently from PDP. I am a humble person. Leaders, I have come to learn from you.

I am not a leader who gets carried away. I am still your daughter and your child, who is ready to learn the ways of the PDP, so that we can integrate the good we are bringing from APC, plus the one that you already have in the PDP.

Those who know me know that I am a humble person. I am not carried away by office or the razzmatazz of office because after the office, people are people. We are all human beings. We are the same. God created us in the same way.

At the end of the day nobody is buried in 10 feet. We all go six feet down.

I want to be remembered as the woman who did her best for Etsako East. That is how I want to be remembered.

My prayer is that on September 19th, God will give us victory.

This is the beginning. We have work to do. We are not oblivious of the work ahead. I know that we have work to do.

But I trust God one hundred percent Who has given me this commission; Who has lifted me above my peers. I trust Him that this journey is goig to be smooth and at the end of the day, God and God alone will take the victory.

May God bless all of us here. As we have come we will return home safely; we will not be involved in any accident; we will not see armed robbers or kidnappers; we will continue to move forward and Godwin Obaseki and Philip Shaibu will be sworn in for a second tenure come 12th November 2020.

P D P!

Power to the people!