The newly appointed Deputy Governor of Edo State, Marvellous Godwins Omobayo, shed light on the reasons behind his selection.
Omobayo, who assumed the role following the impeachment of Philip Shaibu, revealed Governor Godwin Obaseki’s rationale during his inauguration in Benin on Monday.
Quoting Obaseki, Omobayo recounted, “Why me? This was the million naira question I asked His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki when he gave me the surprise invitation for a dialogue about this job a couple of days ago. His answer was simple and direct: ‘God!’ He elaborated further: ‘I looked through my history books and discovered that Akoko-Edo has never served in this capacity. I talked to a few key leaders from Akoko-Edo, across party lines, and all fingers pointed at you. The ultimate decision, however, came from God, and I could not say no.’”
Expressing his gratitude and acknowledging the significance of the appointment for the Akoko-Edo people, Omobayo referenced biblical passages and emphasized the historical importance of the moment.
In his acceptance speech titled “A day of the Lord: A Day I will never forget,” Omobayo conveyed the appreciation of the Akoko-Edo people for Obaseki’s decision, highlighting their long-standing marginalization despite being a populous voting bloc in Edo North.
He underscored the historic nature of the appointment for Akoko-Edo, a region that has been overlooked in previous administrations, despite its significant population and voting influence.
Omobayo praised Governor Obaseki for his efforts to address the marginalization of Akoko-Edo, citing previous appointments of key officials from the region in his administration.