By
Destiny O. Enabulele, MA
Edo State Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo must understand that changing your mind is a sign of heroism, not weakness.
Arrogance of power is a poison. It makes a leader deaf. It makes him believe that to reverse himself is to lose face. But true leadership is not stubbornness. True leadership is courage to say, “I was wrong.”
It is never too late to imbibe the Pauline conversion. Saul was on his way to Damascus to persecute the followers of Christ. Blinded by zeal, armed with authority, convinced he was right. Then light struck him. He fell. He changed. From persecutor to apostle.
Governor Okpebholo needs his own Damascus experience.
Edo cannot be governed with vendetta. You cannot fight everyone who disagrees with you and call it strength. Strength is restraint. Strength is forgiveness. Strength is building bridges where your predecessors burnt them, if any.
As a Roman Catholic Reverend Father would say, “Go and sin no more.”
The Governor has sinned against prudence. He has sinned against inclusivity. But heaven rejoices more over one sinner who repents. Edo people are forgiving people. They will forgive a humble governor faster than they will tolerate an arrogant one.
It is not too late, Senator. Drop the sword. Embrace Paul. Let history remember you as the man who changed, not the man who destroyed.
That is heroism.
It seems my pastoral ordination is at hand, because I am sounding like a pastor, maybe because today is Sunday. Well, hallelujah somebody.
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