The Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City will come alive as the inauguration ceremony to usher in Monday Okpebholo as the new governor of Edo State takes place today (Tuesday).
Governor Godwin Obaseki ended his tenure as governor on Monday and will today hand over power to the incoming governor of Edo State, Okpebholo.
Okpebholo rose to prominence after winning the state’s governorship election on September 21, 2024, defeating his closest challenger and Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
All of the All Progressives Congress governors are expected to be in Benin, while Senate President Godswill Akpabio will lead members of the Red Chamber to the event to commemorate one of their own.
Dennis Idahosa, the deputy governor and a member of the House of Representatives, will also have backing from members of the Green Chamber, led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
On Monday, main streets surrounding the stadium, including Airport Road, were given a fresh makeover.
A member of the inauguration committee who requested anonymity informed the press that party leaders are anticipated to be in town.
He stated that some people arrived in Benin on Monday for the inauguration.
He said, “It is true that the party bigwigs, including governors, senators, and ministers, will be in town for the event. Some have even arrived, and many more will come in tomorrow.
“The people are also expected to come out en masse for the event that Okpehbolo is bankrolling. You know the governor does not like wasteful spending.”
However, the outgoing governor, Obaseki, who said he was not invited to the inauguration, may not be at the event.
“Well, if he decides not to be there, no one can force him, but that won’t stop the inauguration from taking place,” the inauguration committee member stated.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
