Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu has revealed that Governor Godwin Obaseki should have discussed his succession plan with him instead of ‘intimidating’ him.
Shaibu stated this in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday, claiming he is the type of deputy governor every governor will wish for as he is an advocate of peace and not war.
Shaibu insisted that it was his constitutional right to contest the governorship office in the state, adding that he won’t cave in to pressure or intimidation but can be won over through engagements and discussions.
“Possibly, maybe he (Obaseki) wants somebody else. In a situation like that, what you do is not intimidation, it is not harassment; you call a family together, you call all of us (aspirants) together and give us reasons why you feel certain things should be. Tell us what you want. You don’t intimidate, you don’t harass.
“If I am governor tomorrow and my deputy wants to contest, he has the right to contest. If I want to support somebody else, I also have the right to support somebody else, not intimidation.
“No conversation and then the next thing is intimidation and harassment, not to somebody that has sacrificed for the government.”
The PDP governorship aspirant however, lamented that it was unfortunate that some supporters of the governors were not able to separate between loyalty and constitutional rights.
“It’s my cross I am carrying and that is why I have refused. I don’t need to fight. I am loyal to the governor; it’s not disputed but my right to contest is mine. Loyalty is given and it is fully given even with the humiliations and everything I am still loyal but when it comes to contest, it is my constitutional right,” he said.
Recall that the Edo deputy governor had, on Monday, officially declared to run for the state governorship election on 21st of September2024, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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