Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Sunday led members of the State Executive Council and top All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders to a special thanksgiving mass at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Auchi Diocese, to mark his first anniversary in office.
The service, filled with hymns of gratitude and reflection, was a homecoming of faith for the governor, who returned to the same altar where he made a solemn vow a year ago, to give thanks to God if he emerged victorious in both the APC primaries and the governorship election.
“Sometimes last year, I stood in this church and promised God that if I won the primaries and the gubernatorial election, I would return to give thanks. Today, I have come to redeem that vow,” Governor Okpebholo declared, his voice heavy with emotion.
The governor expressed profound appreciation to the Catholic Bishop of Auchi Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel G. Dunia, and the Catholic faithful for their prayers and support, describing them as partners in faith and governance. “When the Bishop spoke today, he spoke my mind,” Okpebholo noted.
Reflecting on his administration’s priorities, the governor reaffirmed his commitment to tackling insecurity and improving road infrastructure two key challenges confronting the state.
“As I came here today, my thoughts were on how we will fix the bad roads. The next concern is security. We will continue to do our best to ensure that evil has no place in our land,” he pledged.
Okpebholo also sympathized with the Church over recent incidents of kidnapping involving priests, assuring the congregation that his administration is working tirelessly to restore peace. “There is never a day we are not concerned about insecurity. I assure you, with your prayers and our efforts, we will overcome,” he said.
In his sermon, Bishop Dunia commended Governor Okpebholo for his steadfastness and integrity, recalling his promise from the previous year. “You made a vow before God and His people, and today you have kept it. This is the mark of a man of faith and truth,” the Bishop stated.
The Bishop praised the governor’s decision to revive the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, describing it as a vital step toward promoting public health, discipline, and cleanliness.
The thanksgiving mass drew a wide array of dignitaries, political leaders, and worshippers from across the state, creating an atmosphere of unity and celebration.
Governor Okpebholo’s symbolic return to the same altar where his journey began served as a poignant reminder of humility, faith, and integrity in leadership values he said will continue to define his administration.
As Edo State marks one year under his stewardship, the governor reaffirmed that his government will remain rooted in compassion, accountability, and service, with a clear mission to build a peaceful, secure, and prosperous state for all.
