‘Without you, I may not have been governor’, Oshiomhole begs Igbindeion

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has asked the patriarch of Igbinedion family, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, to forgive him, saying without the Esama of Benin, he could not have been elected governor of Edo State.

The senator, who currently represents Edo north, governed Edo State between 2008 and 2016.

He was to take over from Lucky, the eldest son of Igbinedion, who was governor between 1999 and 2007 but  Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, who was a senator between 1999 and 2007, defeated him in the controversial election, which was contested in court and Oshiomhole who ran under the platform of Action Congress (AC) was declared winner after a year.

Pa Igbinedion, who had a cold war with Osunbor, was said to have supported Oshiomhole against Osunbor, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate.

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However, Oshiomhole fell out with the Igbinedion family while in power, accusing them of extorting the people of Benin.

But in his goodwill to message to the patriarch of the dynasty, who just clocked 90, Oshiomhole begged for forgiveness.

“You brought together people from all parts of the country; north, south, east, and west and across political and religious divides,” Oshiomhole said.

“I want to publicly acknowledge your support for me in 2007 and 2008, without which I might never have become the governor of Edo state.

“As a Catholic, I want to confess that I might have done some things I shouldn’t have done as governor.

“At 90, it is only right that I ask for your forgiveness for any of my actions that may have irritated you.

“I have always looked for one opportunity to say to the Esama of the universe that I am sorry for any of the things that I said knowingly or unknowingly or any of the things that I did that a son should never have done to a father.

“On your 90th birthday, I ask for your forgiveness, and I pray that you grant it.

“But with as many children as God has blessed you with, some are bound to irritate you.

“Having said that, I am believing that you have forgiven me and I feel now able to reunite and hug my own brother, Lucky Igbinedion.”