•Philip Shaibu
Reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, who joined Governor Godwin Obaseki on June 19, 2020 to defect from the then governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, yesterday knelt down and begged a former National Chairman of APC, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, as he (Shaibu) returned to the APC.
The return of Shaibu to APC took place in Benin at the inauguration of the party’s National Campaign Council for the September 21, 2024 governorship election headed by the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, reports The Nation.
The reinstated Edo deputy governor, who defected to APC along with prominent PDP members and their teeming supporters, said: “I am back to add value to the APC. On behalf of the Legacy Group, I announce our movement to the APC.
“It is time to take back our state. We will not talk too much, because action will speak for us. We are not afraid, we are ready to move forward.
“We, the homeboys, are ready to take our state back, through the APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa. We are not troublemakers, but if it comes, we will use it to rub our body and move on.”
APC’s national chairman, Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje, who received Shaibu and other defectors, stated that with the former member of the House of Representatives (Shaibu) being a serving deputy governor, the APC already had 50 per cent of Edo’s votes.
He assured that APC’s grand rally in Benin would soon be attended by President Bola Tinubu, and that Okpebholo, the representative of Edo Central Senatorial District, and Idahosa, who represents Ovia constituency in the House of Representatives, would not be governing Edo with Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) as Obaseki of PDP, but with concrete plans to develop the state, connect it to the centre, and move Edo forward.
The national chairman of APC described Okpebholo as a developer, who knew the meaning of development and good governance, and Idahosa was referred to as projects’ man, while urging Edo electorate to massively vote for them.
Ganduje hailed Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, on the maintenance of peace in Benin Kingdom, while giving an assurance that APC government, from November 12 this year, would respect the traditional institution.
Oshiomhole, a former Edo governor, who represents Edo North senatorial district, called for the disbandment of Edo State Security Network (ESSN), and asked the state’s Commissioner of Police, Funso Adegboye, to unmask the killers of police Inspector Onuh Akoh on Thursday, during an attack on the convoy of Shaibu and Okpebholo on Airport Road, Benin.
The former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), also accused Obaseki of underdeveloping Edo, and unable to build on his noteworthy legacies in all sectors.
Okpebholo, while also speaking, expressed optimism of emerging victorious on September 21, through the help of God and support of Edo electorate, while promising to unite Edo residents and ensure good governance.
