Bamidele Kehinde, Chief Operating Officer of the Lagos West Directorate of Politics and Governance, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), has credited Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, with playing a crucial role in efforts that led to access being gained to Pastor Benjamin Egbaji while he was detained under harsh conditions in Benin Republic.
Speaking during an interview on News Central TV, Kehinde defended the minister against criticisms over her involvement in the pastor’s ordeal, insisting that Ojukwu was instrumental in navigating the difficult diplomatic and security barriers surrounding the case before a presidential pardon was eventually granted by President Patrice Talon.
Kehinde said many critics were unaware of the behind-the-scenes efforts made by the minister, particularly in securing access to the detained cleric at a time when communication and intervention were difficult. He argued that her role went beyond routine official duties and involved direct effort to reach the pastor despite the restrictions surrounding his detention.
Emphasizing the minister’s involvement, Kehinde said, “Let me shock you, it took her effort to gain access to where they chained Pastor Benjamin.”
According to him, the statement underscores the extent of difficulty surrounding the case and the significance of the minister’s intervention. He suggested that without her efforts, it may have been far more difficult for authorities and stakeholders to understand the pastor’s condition or pursue steps that eventually contributed to his release……See More
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