The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu, has stated his willingness to transfer power to the newly elected governor and deputy governor, irrespective of the presence of the outgoing governor, Godwin Obaseki.
Shuaibu’s statement comes in response to rumours suggesting that Obaseki was absent from the state.
Recall that Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC candidate who won the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State, defeating the PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, is scheduled to be sworn in on Tuesday (today).
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Shaibu expressed happiness to hand over to the new governor, Monday Okpebholo, and his deputy.
He said, “I am deeply happy that today has come, and I am going to be handing over to a new deputy governor. Normally, if the governor is not there, the deputy governor will hand over. So whether he is there or not, I am ready to hand over”.
Shaibu also revealed his relationship with Obaseki in the last days of their administartion.
“The governor and I have been apart. He does not communicate with me, and we don’t talk. It is very unfortunate. This is the first time in Edo State that a governor and his deputy will have to part without talking to each other. I made an effort. I have not been seeing him at the government house in the last four days,” he said.
Speaking about his experience working with the outgoing governor, Shuaibu said that although he remained loyal to Obaseki, he “faced many challenges” during the administration, adding that he back to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
His words: “Yes. I am back in APC. I am one of the very young guys that started the APC in Edo State. Because of loyalty, I went with my governor. I decamped from APC to PDP not because I wanted to, but because I wanted to but because I was loyal to Obeseki. I left APC because of him, and I am back to APC because of him.
“I thank him for the opportunity to be able to reunite with my father, Oshimole who I quarrelled with because of Obaseki”.
