Edo guber: Catholic priest, Obinyan joins guber race, says I’m here to serve

…Keeps choice party mute

By Elvis Omoregie, Benin

Rev. Fr. Andrew Obinyan of St. Francis Catholic Church, Benin City, has joined the 2024 Edo State governorship race with a promise to serve the people and not to be served.

Obinyan who disclosed his resolve to join the gubernatorial race while addressing journalists at the press centre of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said he decided to join the race to heed the calls and pressure that have been piled on him by different groups.

The Catholic Priest pointed out that as a Catholic priest, he is trained and equipped to serve, adding he is ready to serve the good people of Edo State.

According to him, “I received a series of calls from well meaning Edo people and Nigerians across party lines beckoning me to contest the forthcoming governorship election in our dear State.

“After very extensive consultation and consideration, I am pleased to inform you that I am giving Edo people and members of the movement an affirmative nod. And that means I have considered it, and I am very much available and ready to serve.

“As a priest, I am trained and equipped to serve and not to be served,” Fr. Obinyan said.

The Catholic clergy is, however, yet to disclose the political party on which he wants to run the governorship race.

Also speaking, Jude Aigbona, Leader, Rev. Fr. Obinyan Movement, said after being governed by politicians and technocrats, Edo people should give the priest a chance to govern the State, adding that Rev. Fr. Obinyan is a tested and trusted servant.

While noting that the youths in Edo plan to embark on a mass movement for the Rev. Fr. Obinyan, he called on the big political parties to give their gubernatorial ticket to Rev. Fr. Obiyan ahead of the Edo 2024 governorship election.

Agbona assured that with the Catholic Priest, Edo State will experience a total turn around like a new creature.

He said, “We intend to run a mass movement, a movement that will reshape Edo State; a movement that will give us a new hope in Edo State.

“Edo has seen it all. We have seen technocrats rule us, we have seen politicians rule us, so let us try a man of God. A man who is ready to serve us wholeheartedly so that Edo will be a new state; a new creature that other states will want to emulate.”

Also speaking, another member of the movement, Basil Ogwu, said: “This movement cuts across all party lines. We didn’t just come to support him, but after much consultation, we discovered that he is credible. We have tried different kinds of people, but this time around, we want to give it to a religious leader.”