Edo State’s newly sworn-in governor, Monday Okpebholo, has shared his dramatic journey to winning the governorship seat, painting it as a “spiritual battle” he fought with prayers and divine intervention. But let’s be real(we are Nigerians), the path to political power in Nigeria is anything but holy. It’s a dirty game where every trick in the book, from shameless propaganda to outright vote manipulation, is fair play. It’s amusing how Okpebholo now credits God for his victory, sidestepping the glaring political machinations behind his success, especially the influence of power brokers like Adams Oshiomhole.
The claim of a “free and fair” election in Nigeria is laughable at best when was the last time anyone truly believed that fairy tale?
In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, Okpebholo attributed his victory to “the grace of God, constant prayers, and the support of the people,” during a Thanksgiving service held at Samuel Ogbumudia Stadium in Benin City. The governor took to the stage with a message urging Nigerians to place their trust in God, conveniently ignoring the shadowy political maneuvers that likely played a part in his win.
Okpebholo narrated an almost cinematic spiritual experience, claiming that while his opponents were busy on TV and social media attacking him, he was “listening to the voice of God.” According to him, his faith and prayers were enough to secure his victory. He even described finding a dead bat on his bed after the election, interpreting this as a divine sign of God’s intervention.
He proudly declared that he did not seek help from native doctors, prophets, or any diviners throughout his campaign, portraying himself as a paragon of virtue in the dirty game of Nigerian politics.
This statement might be aimed at boosting his public image as a man of faith, but it does little to address the allegations of political influence from Oshiomhole.
At the Thanksgiving service, a parade of political figures, music artists, and clergymen were present, showcasing a spectacle of unity and celebration. The show of support was not surprising given that Okpebholo, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared the winner of the September 21 governorship election, securing 291,667 votes. His main rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), came close with 247,274 votes, while Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) lagged far behind with just 22,763 votes.
