By Collins Edomaruse
Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on September 21 election in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Sunday gifted N25 million to Christ’s Chosen Church of God, Benin City, Edo state.
He made the donation while speaking at a thanksgiving service of the church following the dedication of its new church building.
Okpebholo, who was introduced to the 10,000 capacity auditorium, was welcomed to the podium with a loud applause.
Okpebholo was at the event in company with his running mate, Rt Hon Dennis Idahosa and the DG of the APC governorship campaign council, Senator Matthew Orhokhide, among others.
The church also announced to the presence of the governorship candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Asue Ighodalo.
He was, however, represented by the Director-General of PDP Campaign Council, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen.
Addressing the 10,000 congregation, Okpebholo told them the story of his growing up, which according to him, was one of hardship and lack, said his sojourn into politics was fired by his desire to ensure that no Edo child of resident sufferers what he went through in life.
He also told the congregation that he was offering himself for election into the office of governor, barely a year after he won election into the Nigerian Senate because he wanted an office that he could use to offer desired services to the people of the state.
“The Senate was limited; it was largely a vehicle to build my immediate constituency, the Edo Central. I wanted a larger platform to reach all Edo citizens”, he said.
He cited some of his contributions to the development of the entire Esanland before he was elected senator and what he had so far attracted to the area since he became senator.
According to him, he had swung into action fixing the largely failed Benin-Auchi-Okene highway, which had been a snare to travellers for so long.
“Work is progressing on the project following the approval of President Bola Tinubu after my meeting with him at the Presidential Villa”, he told the congregation.
He appealed to voters to vote the APC on September 21 to enable him implement his people-oriented development programmes
On his part, the PDP candidate, Ighodalo – represented by Iduoriyekemwen, told the congregation that his principal was ‘unavailablely’ absent and had asked to be represented.
He told the church that Ighodalo would be with them at a later date and pledged N20m to the Church’s building project.
