This year’s Father’s Day celebration has united some political rivals in Edo State.
The former deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu and the director-general of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Organisation, Hon Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, both served as Altar Boys to mark the day at the St. Paul Catholic Church, Airport Road, Benin City.
The day also coincided with the first anniversary of the 8th Assembly of the Edo State House of Assembly, which impeached Shaibu as the deputy governor.
The parish priest, Rev Fr. (Dr) Charles Omogiate, urged them to make laws that would always be in the interest of the people who are always at the receiving end of government policies.
The speaker of the House, Hon Blessing Agbebaku and another former deputy governor, Rt. Hon Pius Odubu, both participated in the Prayer of the Faithful.
Fr. Omogiate said to the lawmakers, “You represent the people, and you have the people’s mandate. They have reposed so much trust and confidence in you that you cannot let them down, so you need to constantly reflect on why you are a member of the House of Assembly in the first place.
“Take a rethink and recommit yourself, go for a retreat sometimes as a group and ask yourselves, what have we been doing? Have we been on the right track? What are we not doing right and correcting our wrongs? Above all, make laws favourable to the people; you owe them that obligation and to God, who made it happen.
“In your rights, you are seeds, just like the mustard seed; you have grown to this level. Let people also experience what you experienced, be pleasing to the people when those of your constituencies want to see you, and let them have access to you because you represent them. Think of their sound, not of your good.
“If you are selfless, you will extend that state of selflessness to others, and I want to please ask you to live in harmony and peace, be united, be loving, help one another, support each other, stay together, do not be divided, whatever bridges that have to be mended please make out terms to mend them; lawmakers, peacemakers that is who you should be to make our state the best because really and truly, we deserve the best,” he said.
