THE AUDACITY OF HOPE : Who Will Go For Us,Here I Am Lord- Isaiah

THE AUDACITY OF HOPE

Who Will Go For Us,Here I Am Lord– Isaiah

Major General Cecil Esekhaigbe (retd.)

I heard of one Monday Okpebholo in 2018 December through my elder brother Chief Frank Erewele,who asked me to help present a Toyota corolla to a woman who was denied a tricycle by a political leader.He said the donor was one Monday Okpebholo based in Abuja who felt pained with the injustice suffered by the woman…CONTINUE READING

The first time I met him was in 2020 when I was appointed as the Director General of the APC Governorship election. He was a close confidant of the candidate for the election. He approached me in Esan dialect(Ara Owanlen) and introduced himself to me as Esan man.

I saw in this young man,a classical humility,soft spoken mien and a disarming aura. He became closer and closer to me extolling my virtue as a frank,bold and straight forward personality that he would like to have as a father.

In November January 2022, Monday came to approach me to go for the Senatorial election and the he would sponsor me. I politely declined that as a Leader,I would rather provide leadership than go in for contest with the people that I am leading. He returned in April to seek for my support for him to contest the Senate. I then asked him for his motivation and the plans he has for the good people of Edo Central.

He activated my emotions and deep sense of morbid affection when he quipped that his sole motivation was to make sure no Esan boy or girl passes through the sufferings he passed through growing up. He said to me that he has no respect for material things so his motivation is quite different from other typical politicians.

We offered him the senatorial ticket and he won the elusive senatorial seat for APC in Edo Central. His humility and quest for excellent service delivery won him a prestigious committee chair as a green horn in the Red Chambers. Sen Monday as he is popularly called by his colleagues easily wins the heart of mind of people at first sight.
When again after just few months in the Senate he came to me to support him for the Governorship ticket, I initially frowned at his audacity because he has not even spent a year in that office. I also looked at the array of political big wigs he wants to challenge.

He kept coming to me and told me that I am the only one that can stop his burning ambition if iam contesting. I told him I will not contest for the same reason I gave earlier which is a huge sacrifice I had to make for my love for Esan.It was a moral burden to preside over the screening of Aspirants and come forward to contest after.

I saw grace play out in the Senatorial contest,and again about to play out in the Governorship race. Everywhere I went many people of different backgrounds kept asking me who this Monday is. I though he was overreaching himself this time looking at the high and mighty in the race.

The grace became apparent and I knew that this young man is divinely inspired. I supported him based on his mantra “what he passed through growing up,no Edo boy or girl should go through that lane” I supported him and to God that created me I didn’t collect a dime from him yesterday and today or anytime for supporting him.I stand to be challenged on this.I also know what I passed through growing up. You have to have that harsh experience to understand the meaning and imperative of the security and welfare of the citizenry. – The primary purpose of government.

Sen Monday was presented today with the coveted flag of the APC to fly in the coming Governorship election. With all intent and purposes,he is marching to Osadebe Avenue as the Governor of Edo State by the grace of God come Nov 2024. I am again humbly calling on our party faithful to come out enmasse to vote for Sen Monday Okpebholo come Sept 21 for the actualisation of our collective dream.

Monday will work for Edo people by ensuring purposeful governance. The Independents and even some members of other political parties are yearning for Sen Okpebholo AKA Akpakomiza. WHAT AN AUDACITY OF HOPE. MAY GOD HELP US.

Major General Cecil Esekhaigbe (retd.)