BENIN CITY- A frontline 2024 Governorship Aspirant and the Parish Priest of St. Francis Catholic Church, Benin City, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Andrew Obiyan has said that it was easier to manage our diversity than manage our differences.
Dr. Obinyan made the declaration on Friday 24th, November, 2023 while receiving an Award of Excellence conferred on him by Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) held in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
The University of Ibadan graduate of Philosophy and a Ph.D holder from the prestigious University of Benin, one time Chairman of Edo Pilgrims Welfare Board, a multi talented Priest who has been able to transform St. Francis Catholic Church into a remarkable state of the art asset using the descerning strength to bring Christ healing grace to the people through the power of the Holly Spirit noted that he was at the event not as a person but on behalf of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin.
Fr. Obinyan priestly ministry credited with divine miracles for which many have described him as a charismatic and motivational preacher, a motivator who innovates new approaches to complex pastoral challenges thereby healing broken hearted souls and healing ailing families and ultimately bringing the best out of hopeless family situations and restoring them to healthy living, thereby reengineering a healthy, productive and vibrant society, in his acceptance speech thanked the organizers of the event for finding him worthy for the award.
“I stand here on behalf of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City as a priest and an integral part of the Presbytarium. I have no life of my own, and so, I want to first and foremost thank God for this day and thank the Coalition of Registered Political Parties for giving me this great honour and the other awardees present here.
“As a Reverend Father of the Catholic Mission, I am trained and wired not to allow anyone to sound my trumpet and we are not encouraged to sound our trumpet and so when I was approached with the idea of the award, I felt reluctant because I felt it was not necessary but when I gave it a second thought and prayed about it particularly when the awardees are drawn from different walks of life and not about me as a person, but about the impart that has been made and in recognition of that impart, so I was favourably disposed to be here and I feel eminently privileged to be here today to be honoured.
“What we say as Ministers in Luke 17 – 10, we are unworthy servants. We have only done what is expected of us and so I disclaim any right to what I have done but give all the glory to God Almighty and I thank God for making me realize increasingly that we are mere vessels,” he said.
Going further, Dr. Obinyan added, “I would like to say that as we prepare for the Edo 2024 governorship election, let us remember that as Edo people and as one people under God, we are too small to divide along tribal lines and I also think that we are beautiful enough to remain one. We should therefore endeavor to manage our diversity because it is easier to do that than manage our differences.
“When God wants to bless Edo six million people, He searches for the right person with the right spirit, generous and kind hearted, selfless person to dispense the blessings that are heaped upon one man who is so blessed that we call a governor. So let us together pray and be honest in our search. Let us pray that our discerner will not break down so that we are able to truly elect and support that man we think will be able to dispense these blessings”.
Among other awardees are Dr. Osahon Enabulele, Hon. Anemero Dekeri, a member representing Etsako Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Senator Monday Okpebholo, representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Hon. Ernest Abegbe, Pastor Peter Ayo Olowojoba and Hon. Christopher Osakwe, the Deputy Chief of Staff to Delta State Government.