The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Edo State, Bishop Peter Imasuen, has told Christian leaders in the state to mobilise their people for the re-election of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, saying it is not enough to verbalise their support without going out to vote for him.
Imasuen, who is also the Bishop of Benin Diocese of the Anglican Communion, gave the charge at a meeting of the Governor with the Bishop and other Venerables of the Anglican Communion at St Peter’s Anglican Church, Benin City.
According to Imasuen: “We can now boast that we are Edolites because of the development everywhere. During the time of (retired General Samuel) Ogbemudia, we were proud to say we were Bendelites and it started from the time of Mid West. But everything was left to rot until Oshiomhole came.
“This is the man God is using today. He is not asking us to bring money. What he desires from us is encouragement. When fathers say ‘go it is well’, then it is well. We must back him up spiritually. He is going on campaign physically, so we must back him up with prayers.
“Prayer without work is dead, so we must mobilise our people to vote.”
The CAN Chairman told the clergy to mount the pulpit this Sunday and sensitise the people on the need to return the governor, adding: “Mount the pulpits yourselves and preach. I will get the feedback. Sensitise our people for the election. Tell them we don’t want to go back to Egypt. We want to remain in the Promised Land. We don’t want to go back to what we used to be. We want to remain and continue from where our Comrade Governor has built.
“I want almost 99 per cent, if not 100 per cent votes for him, especially from Edo South, which we control. Whether you have done your work, I will know when the result is out.”
According to him, if other governors had worked like Oshiomhole, who performed in three years, Edo people would not have had cause to relocate abroad.
Rather, people would relocate to the state from outside the country.
He asked Christians in the state to fast and pray on Sunday for the success of the election.
Oshiomhole, who thanked the Christian community for their prayers for the success of his administration, urged them to continually put the state and the country in prayers.
He said: “I pray that God will neutralise those forces that want Nigeria to disintegrate.
“In Edo State, I believe we need special prayers, especially in the light of the forthcoming election. Of course, people will plan either for good or bad, but only the plan endorsed by God will prevail.”
He assured the Christian leaders that if given another mandate to serve, his government would take the state to such a level that future governments in the state would not be able to reverse the wheel of progress in the state.