No rift between my deputy and I —Okpebholo

Edo Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has reaffirmed the cordial relationship between him and his deputy, Mr Dennis Idahosa.

Okpebholo added that contrary to the claim in some quarters that there was a gulf between him and Idahosa, there was no decision he had taken since his admission came onboard that was not with consultation with his deputy.

Governor Okpebholo made the remarks on Monday evening at the thanksgiving service held at the Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, Adesuwa, Benin City, to mark Idahosa’s 45th birthday anniversary.

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The thanksgiving service was attended by several top political bigwigs in the state.

The governor also revealed that the first time they met at the lobby of the Transcorps Hilton in Abuja, he told Idahosa that he would be his deputy and “the word of the prophet today has come to pass today.”

“I have absolute confidence in him, and we have been working very closely. We take decisions together. When you hear Akpakorescue, there is an inside discussion before we execute.

“Before we execute anything, we discuss and agree and sometimes he will tell me, remember where we are coming from, remember your ways. So, I see him as a partner and I believe in him.

“By the grace of God, I still believe that God is going to take him higher than this. I want to say a big congratulations to him and the grace of God will continue to rest upon him.” Okpebholo prayed

Speaking, the celebrant, Idahosa, recalled how he struggled in his early life after the painful death of his father when he was just six years old.

The deputy governor attributed his political successes to the grace of God when he was appointed a commissioner at the age of 34.

Idahosa added that the challenges he faced while growing up spurred his philanthropic gesture to empower women and youths.

“My father died when I was just six years old. It was my mother that stood by all of us,” he stated.

Also speaking at the church service, former Secretary to the Edo State Government, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, praised the humility of Idahosa, describing him as a politician of strong will.

“I will describe him with the experience I had with him. When I approached him to support former President Goodluck Jonathan, he said he cannot remain with the Edo State Government as commissioner and support the PDP. He had to resign his appointment to support Jonathan,” Ize-Iyamu eulogised.

Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, under whose administration Idahosa served as commissioner, said it was his former deputy, Dr Pius Odubu, that said Idahosa would be an asset to his administration.