The wife of Ekiti State governor, Dr (Mrs) Yemi Oyebanji, on Sunday revealed how her husband, Governor Abiodun Oyebanji being in the saddle in the land of honour and integrity was birthed by the late Pioneer General Pastor of Glory Tabernacle Ministry in Ibadan, Oyo State, Pastor Uzodinma Obed, and his wife, Associate Pastor Chinyere Obed, many years before it was fulfilled.
The governor’s wife made the revelation in her remarks at the celebration of Pastor (Mrs) Obed’s 70th birthday which took place at the church premises at Bodija area of Ibadan.
The governor, his wife and children were staunch members of the Ibadan-based church before he was sworn in on October 16, 2022, to administer the state.
Aside from the Ekiti governor’s wife, other personalities from the Christendom who graced the occasion included the wife of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye; a retired UI lecturer and pastor, Prof. (Mrs)Janice Olawoye; Prof. Hans Adu-Dapaah and his wife from Ghana; Revd (Mrs) Patience Oyor and Evangelist Toun Soetan.
According to Her Excellency, GT’s late Pioneer General Pastor prompted her husband to go for the gubernatorial position years back, an urge which came to pass.
“Daddy Obed asked my husband about his visions and aspirations after 50 years on earth and he told the pastor he wanted to serve God. The pastor asked him: ‘Don’t you want to be the governor of your state? We want righteousness to reign in Nigeria,’” she told the congregation.
Dr Mrs Oyebanji said further that after telling Governor Oyebanji that the years he served the state in different capacities were for training him for greater responsibility, Pastor then prayed by telling God that though the governor was not desperate for the position, he (Pastor Obed) was desperate on his behalf.
Her Excellency appreciated Pastor (Mrs) Obed for believing in the governor and the prayers she was offering on behalf of her family consistently.
She promised that the Ekiti First Family would not mess up, as they have a home to return to after serving.
She presented a manual containing tributes, encomium and appreciation of God’s goodness in Mrs Obed’s life.
Also speaking, Prof. Olawoye recalled how her relationship with Pastor (Mrs) Obed started as a teacher to a student when she came for postgraduate studies at the University of Ibadan, but said that she was a different kind of student than many of the others.
“I knew her husband who was also a lecturer in UI teacher and the relationship was a bit closer. We moved from being teachers to students and became sisters, colleagues and friends,” Prof. Olawoye said.
She described the celebrant as an encouragement and supporter, praying for her to have many more years to serve God and humanity.
On her part, Pastor (Mrs) Adeboye, who described the celebration day as beautiful and joyful, said that it serves as a remembrance of the day of one’s birth which was not terminated abruptly through divine grace.
She delivered greetings to the celebrant on behalf of the RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye on God’s goodness and mercy Mrs Obed had enjoyed, praying that it would endure forever.
Pastor Mrs Adeboye spoke on what drew her closer to Mrs Obed, saying that it was her heart of worship and breaking the bread of life which is the word of God.
She led the congregation in prayer for the celebrant that God should continue to hold her hand as He leads her through the path of righteousness for His name’s sake.
