TheCable

Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was conspicuously absent at the 80th birthday ceremony of John Oyegun, his predecessor.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the APC, were also absent at the occasion which took place in Benin, capital of Edo state, on Monday.

Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, and Rotimi Akeredolu, his Ondo counterpart, Philip Shaibu, deputy governor of Edo, were among the APC leaders in attendance.

But while key APC leaders were absent, chieftains of the opposition party were on ground to celebrate with Oyegun.

Uche Secondus, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), attended a thanksgiving mass organised for Oyegun at St Paul’s Catholic Church in Benin.

Lucky Igbinedion, ex-governor of Edo, Gabriel Igbinedion, esama of Benin, Dan Orbih, PDP chairman in the state, also attended the service.

While conducting the mass, Augustine Akubeze, Catholic archbishop of Edo diocese, described Oyegun as a humble, patriotic and fine politician who devoted his life to the development of the country.

“Our political leaders should know that those who want peace must work for justice for all Nigerians, knowing that justice brings peace and  development,” Akubeze said.

The archbishop also commended the “developmental strides” of the Obaseki-led administration.

“In you, we have seen a technocrat who doesn’t believe in wasting state resources but rather believes in using the finances to work for the good of the people,” he said.

The archbishop urged Obaseki and Oshiomhole to work for the good of the state.