…holds the Festival of 9 Lessons & Carol.
Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu and family Sunday celebrated the 2022 Christmas Carol of 9 Lessons in grand style with friends and political associates.
Hundreds of people throng the Benin palatial residence of the Shaibus to worship and celebrate God’s grace upon the second family.
Indeed, it was a glorious evening as the Deputy Governor and his family appreciated the awesomeness and blessings of God in the outgoing year, despite the numerous challenges.
The evening, tagged “Festival of Nine Lessons” provided a united platform for the high and low in the society to celebrate the glorious birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and pray for a more prosperous new year with Shaibu and family.
The occasion featured songs ministration by St. Paul Catholic Church Choir, Benin City, and renditions of traditional Christmas carols by the attendees.
In his sermon, Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Obiyan, read from the scriptures, “unto us a child is born, unto us, a child is given, he was not only born unto us but dwells amongst us”.
According to him, “this implies that Christmas should be an everyday celebration and not a seasonal celebration”, Fr. Obiyan said.
He added by urging the people and members of the political class to always look up to God for their blessings while praying to God to grant Edo State Government the required peace to continue to make progress on all fronts.
Also speaking, the chief host, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu noted that he and his family resolved to gather the people of Edo State every Christmas to celebrate God’s grace in the form of a Christmas Carol.
He affirmed that Christmas was a period of sharing love and care with the less privileged.
” We can’t become who will choose to be without God; because with God on our side, we can do all things”.
“I believe that Edo State will continue to see peace as we continue to pray for peace. All the men of God should continue to pray for the State because they’re always the last resort for any administrative failure”, Shaibu added.
Dignitaries at the event were; the First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Osarodion Ogie Esq., Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Joe Acha, former Speakers, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elizabeth Ativie and Rt.Hon. Frank Okiye, as well as Edo State PDP Chairman, Hon. Tony Aziegbemhi. Rev Frs. from the Catholic denomination were also there in their number.