THE story surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ as contained in Matthew 2:1-11 keeps fascinating me. A part of which speaks of three wise men from the East who came to pay their obeisance and worship the birth of the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
The wise men said they saw his star, that the redeemer of the whole world was born. But most importantly is the fact that flesh and blood did not reveal it to the wise men, but the spirit of God.
In fact, the Holy book in Matthew 2: 10- 11 records that: "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh".
The story becomes apt at this time of our history as a people in Edo State. Shortly after the election of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, the Edo State an umbrella body of all churches in Nigeria were in Government House to endorse Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole ahead of the July 14, 2012 governorship polls in the state.
President of CAN in the state, Bishop Peter Imasuen at a thanksgiving service at Government House, Benin City averred that they were not only appreciative of the numerous developmental works of the ACN government, but they also believe that God is with Oshiomhole.
Certainly, like the three wise men, flesh and blood did not reveal it to all members of CAN in Edo State, it is the spirit of God that ministered to them, hence their open endorsement. Why will God not anoint Oshiomhole who recognised immediately after his election to give thanks.
General Charles Airhiavbere and his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, do not know God; they only believe in mammon or godfather. But they forget that even the Edo PDP mammon is a creation of Oshiomhole's Almighty God.
A number of reasons can be adduced to this development. In the same week, the kinsmen of the PDP candidate, Gen. Airhiavbere at a reception in honour of Comrade Oshiomhole as their candidate for the July election. The PDP's candidate's kinsmen of Agbodo community in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State in an address by the Secretary of the community, Mr. Bright Ogiemwonyi, had at the elaborate ceremony organised for the Comrade Governor openly adopted him as their son for the July 14 election.
Ogiemwonyi noted that the Comrade Governor had touched their hearts and demonstrated that he is a worthy son of the land just as they distanced themselves from the vain aspirations of Gen. Airhiavbere who many say is unknown to the community.
The community spokesperson was very blunt and straight forward: "For the avoidance of doubt, let us make it clear that we also have a son from this community whose biological father, the late Pa P.E.A Airhiavbere is an indigene of Agbodo community and was the immediate past chairman of the Community Development Association, CDA, whose son incidentally is also running as a candidate on the platform of the PDP.
Agbodo community has resolved unanimously to reject their kinsman to vote for Oshiomhole in the July 14 governorship election without apology or explanations".
At the event, the community demanded an electricity transformer to enhance their link up to the national grid. The Comrade Governor, in his usual magnanimity for all Edo people, has delivered the transformer to the community who are full of praises and prayers for him.
All these happened just as the entire workers in the state under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC, endorsed their own Comrade as the sole candidate for the governorship poll. Although, the loquacious PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Matthew Urhoghide had in a statement attacked organised labour in the state, calling them names that are not theirs.
Why does Urhoghide and his PDP believe that organised labour in Edo State would abandon their beloved Comrade for a prodigal son who has been rejected by his people?
What Urhoghide and the few remnants of PDP have failed to realise is that Oshiomhole is an enigma ordained by God to free his people of Edo from the Herods and Pharaohs (PDP) of our time. His position is bestowed on him by God who has seen the deceitful minds of the PDP members in the state and is determined to deliver Edo people from the wickedness of the PDP.
Here is an Oshiomhole who has been endorsed by the body of Christ- the Christians and Muslims alike. Even traditional worshippers have all endorsed him. The converging point for all of these endorsements is that the Comrade Governor is selflessly and doggedly determined to develop the state which the opposition party which held power for 10 years says had no money.
Mr. DAN OWEGIE, Edo ACN Publicity Secretary, wrote from Benin City.
Vanguard Nigeria