My Health Challenge Has Nothing to do with Outcome of Edo Election – Okunbo

…As Obaseki Expresses Sympathy and Best Wishes.

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Chairman of the Ocean Marine Solutions and prominent Edo son, Idahosa Wells Okunbo, a retired commercial plot, has reacted to a viral report on social media to the effect that he had fallen into a coma and flown abroad for medical treatment. The report attributed Okunbo’s health challenge to the trauma of the outcome of the recent governorship election in the state in which the candidate he had backed, Osagie Ize-Iyamu lost to the governor, Godwin Obaseki with whom he had had some differences.

Obaseki has however sympathized with Okunbo on what he described as “this unfortunate development”.

In spite of the political disagreement between them, Okunbo had in a rare display of statesmanship, humility, and courage, congratulated the governor and called on Edo people to support him for the development of the state.

Though he denied slipping into a coma, Okunbo, fondly called Captain Hosa, admitted that he had some heath issues but that he was alive and doing well. Okunbo, in a personally signed statement, described as “evidently ungodly” for people to gloat over the fact that he was not feeling well. Okunbo posited that God does not approve of such disposition, stressing that those who engaged in that pastime were only mocking and playing God.

Okunbo, in his statement, said, “My attention has been drawn to a rash of social media posts concerning my health and the inhuman manner in which it is being orchestrated to look as if it was as a result of the outcome of the September 19, 2020 Edo State Governorship election in which I publicly supported Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

“I have never claimed to be a superhuman being. I do not deny the fact that I am not well. I am outside the country for my medicals, which were delayed because of the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. After a series of tests, my doctors confirmed that I have some health issues.

“It is therefore ill-advised and inhuman for those who are not comfortable with the position I took in the Edo election to joyfully circulate in the social media that I have health issues and that I have slid into coma. Well, I am alive and leave them all to God. I am over 60 years. I thank God who gave me the gift of life, an opportunity to live a good life, the grace to build a legacy of achievements and, most importantly, a good name, which is better than silver and gold.

“I hold dearly to heart, the words of the scriptures that there is a time to be born and a time to die. But what is most important in life is what I have done with my life. And this applies to every mortal being.

“Edo election, which is the reason they are doing this, has come and gone. Those who are opposed to me for taking a position in the election, which they won, should leave me alone and get busy with their life. I have moved on with life”.

Meanwhile, in his message of commiseration, Obaseki, in a personally signed letter dated October 6 and addressed to Okunbo, said “I am deeply sorry to learn about your health challenge. I most sincerely sympathise with you on this unfortunate development and want to assure you of my fervent prayers for your quick recovery.

“I assure you that my household and all your well-wishers would continuously have you in our prayers in this trying time. It is most imperative that everyone respects your person and privacy at this time”.

Expressing his best wishes on behalf of the government and people of Edo State, the governor said “we are hopeful that God Almighty will restore your health soonest”.