By Esohe Osazu
Just as the newly elected governor of Edo state, Senator Monday Okphebolo was sworn in yesterday, I reflected on how the former governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki would have been the happiest man had he listened to the counsel of Nigerian prophet, Primate Elijah Ayodele which he shared in September 2023.
Primate Ayodele may be controversial, too blunt in his approach, have several enemies but one thing is his prophecies always come to pass exactly the way he put them. You don’t even have to be his friend or know him personally before your name features in his prophecies and this is what people don’t understand; when he speaks in their favour, they say he is seeking attention and when his prophecies don’t favour them, they say he has been paid by their opposition, such ignorance.
Humans, especially Christians, need to also realize that your pastor isn’t the only person God sent to you. You can’t decide who God sends to you, you can’t limit God, he does whatever pleases him. Primate Ayodele is a man of ‘garment’ while Obaseki attends a Pentecostal church but Obaseki would be wrong if the reason he didn’t listen to Primate Ayodele’s counsel was due to doctrinal differences. However, it doesn’t matter anymore, the former governor has been embarrassed already.
Precisely on the 21st of September 2023, more than one year ago, Primate Ayodele in a statement released by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, warned Obaseki to be careful in his fight against the former deputy governor, Phillip Shaibu.
He called on Obaseki to stealth his sword because fighting him would make PDP lose the election. He advised him to be more diplomatic about their issues and focus on winning instead of fighting the deputy governor.
He said: ‘’Obaseki should stealth his sword, fighting his deputy will make him fail. He should be more diplomatic about this matter.
“I warned you that you and your deputy will fight three years ago and it will lead to your political weakness.
“Fighting him will make PDP lose, if there are issues, come together and sort it. Don’t wash your dirty linen outside. This fight will not give you victory, it will make you lose, stop fighting.’’
Primate Ayodele continued by alerting both parties that the fight is going spiritual and the party will lose the governorship election if the fight continues. He spoke to the governor like a father advising his son, calling on him to look back at where he came from and telling him to shun those clapping for him because they would create more problems.
These were his words:
‘’The fight is going more spiritual and it may affect PDP chances in the coming election. The party can lose in Edo if this fight continues.
“Instead of putting your house together and see how you will win the election, you are fighting. Stop this fight. There’s more to do than the fight.
“It’s a small world, look at the beginning, don’t let it make you lose the state; don’t think your people love you. Those clapping for you will be the ones that will create problems for you,”
Primate Ayodele warned Obaseki severally and in fact, he advised him not to impose a candidate on the party but this particular heartfelt counsel got me wondering about the grace Obaseki missed because he couldn’t listen to simple instruction, ‘Don’t fight with your deputy, focus on winning’, it was that easy and simple but I guess pride took over the former governor.