In a riveting twist of political fate, Solomon Okoduwa, the former Senior Special Assistant to the now outgoing Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has declared the newly elected governor, Monday Okpebholo, a “God-sent” leader for Edo residents. Okoduwa’s enthusiastic endorsement has stirred conversations across the state—some might even say it’s like an unexpected plot twist in a reality show, only with more drama and fewer commercial breaks.
Following the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Okpebholo as the winner of Saturday’s governorship election, Okoduwa flooded social media and news outlets with his spirited statement. He proclaimed that Okpebholo’s win not only signals a significant victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) but also serves as divine retribution for the outgoing governor’s less-than-stellar leadership performance.
You see, for Okoduwa, the ballot box doesn’t merely symbolize a choice in governance; it’s more like an altar where the people’s grievances are laid. In dramatic fashion, he opined that the results were nothing short of God’s punishment for what he described as Obaseki’s “wickedness” and “vendetta.” Observers of the Edo State political scene are left wondering whether Okoduwa is a political strategist or simply a poet dressed in political lingo.
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“From his background, Okpebholo is God-sent,” Okoduwa emphasized, nodding to both Okpebholo’s humble beginnings and his character. “You won’t find an ounce of arrogance in him,” he added, making it sound like an online dating profile description—”Seeking humble leader, no arrogance, must love the people.” According to Okoduwa, the outpouring of support for Okpebholo from the people of Edo was a natural response to the perceived tyranny under Obaseki’s rule. It’s as if the state collectively decided to “swipe left” on the incumbent and found a “match” in Okpebholo.
This election turned out to be a showdown that felt reminiscent of biblical times, where the mighty tumble due to their misdeeds. “Almighty God deliberately wanted to punish Obaseki by giving him defeat because of his treatment of returnees and other indigenes of Edo State,” Okoduwa claimed. One can almost imagine an intense round of divine chuckles across the heavens as the poll results came in.
The Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, sounded like a game show host announcing the winners. As the results were tallied, it became clear that Okpebholo had poled an impressive 291,667 votes. The competition wasn’t too far behind, with the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo, securing 247,274 votes and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party finishing up with a commendable—but still distant—22,763 votes. Picture a local football match where the winner not only takes home the trophy but also the glory of having outplayed the top contender.
But let’s not forget the humorous side of democracy—the “returnees” that Okoduwa mentioned, if you didn’t know, are those who fled in earlier political turmoil, only to come back and actively participate in the election. Talk about a comeback story! It seems they brought their “returnee” spirit right into the voting booths and evidently knew what they wanted—a leader who promises a return to a more amiable governance atmosphere.
Since Okpebholo’s election victory, the air in Edo is thick with speculation, excitement, and perhaps just a hint of schadenfreude toward Obaseki’s administration. Much like an episode of your favorite soap opera, each twist and turn keeps viewers (or should we say voters?) on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting how this new season will unfold. Already, the streets are filled with jubilant supporters celebrating the hope of new beginnings while the outgoing administration may need a few extra divine interventions to ease the blow of their defeat.
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This recent election has unveiled not just a new governor but a rejuvenated dialogue on governance, expectations, and what it truly means to lead a state. While Okoduwa’s assertions may have a tinge of dramatization—and let’s face it, perhaps a sprinkle of poetic license—many residents are now looking toward the new administration to bring about the change they crave, hoping the “God-sent” label holds true.
As Edo State embarks on what many hope will be a spring of fresh leadership nuances, one thing is certain: political drama in Nigeria is nowhere near a season finale. Meanwhile, Okpebholo prepares to take the helm, and if he can deliver on the promise of a more caring, responsive administration, he might just solidify those “God-sent” credentials. And if you’re a fan of political comedy, you’ll undoubtedly find yourself tuning in to every episode of this unfolding story.