6th September, 2014
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
Imo state governor and Chairman of Progressives Governors’ Forum, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has described Chief John Odigie Oyegun as the political ‘John the Baptist’ of our day.
Okorocha made this known Friday evening in Benin at the grand reception to round off the 75th Birthday Anniversary of Oyegun the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Okorocha who lauded the achievements of Oyegun when he served as the first executive governor of Edo state, added that, the APC national chairman reminded him of the biblical John the Baptist who was forerunner of the saviour, Jesus Christ, adding that victory for the APC in 2015 general election has been signed and sealed by the grace of God.
Earlier at the church service to mark his 75th birthday anniversary which was combined with a thanksgiving service, Oyegun expressed gratitude to God for saving him from untimely death through accident which has left his two orderlies hospitalised.
Leading family members and friends to offer thanks to God at St. Paul Catholic Church in Benin, Oyegun narrated how Senator Bukola Saraki’s request to fly with him in his chartered plane to Minna saved him from the accident.
He explained that he and his convoy were on their way for a campaign rally for the Niger East senatorial bye-election in Niger state when Saraki asked him to join him at Ilorin, but he had told the former governor that he had a large entourage.
He further explained to the congregation that in the end, only he and three members of his entourage were able to join Sen. Saraki due to the small size of the jet, while others drove through road to Minna.
According to him, during the return journey, his official car was involved in a fatal accident, leaving two of his orderlies seriously injured and hospitalised.
“God has been so good to me. I thank God for saving me from an accident,” Chief Oyegun said and promised that “as chairman of APC, I will continue to be a Catholic, first and foremost,” he said.
Speaking later at the reception, host governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state, prayed that APC under the able chairmanship of Oyegun will become the ruling party of Africa’s most populous country, while Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state, thanked Oyegun for standing by him during his election, urging him to repeat the feat at the national level to enable APC achieve victory in 2015.
Dignitaries at the church service included Ekiti state governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Senator Chris Ngige, Sen. Domingo Obende, Sen. Bukola Saraki, the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and Sen. Francis Okpozo.