Edo: I’m ready to handover with or without Obaseki – Shaibu

Edo State’s Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has assured the public of his commitment to transferring power to the newly elected Governor and Deputy Governor, even if outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki is absent.

Shaibu addressed the situation in an interview on Sunrise Daily with Channels Television, responding to speculation about Obaseki’s possible absence from the state ahead of the transition.

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 administration.

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“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, Shaibu said that although he remained loyal to Obaseki, he “faced many challenges” during the administration, adding that he is back to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“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 Obaseki. 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, Oshiomhole who I quarrelled with because of Obaseki.”