adminGovernor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State says he has yet to decide who will be his possible successor ahead of the September 2024 governorship election.
“I am not in the position now to determine, appoint or anoint a successor,’’ Edo’s Gov. Godwin Obaseki, said in Benin.
“All I know is that in the process of seeking my successor, there must be fairness, equity, and a sense of inclusion because our goal is to keep Edo as one.
“The important thing for us as an administration is for us to finish strong and complete everything we told Edo people we would do for them during our campaigns,’’ Obaseki told newsmen on Friday.
He emphasized that the process of selecting his successor in advance of the state’s governorship election in 2024 must be fair, equitable, and inclusive.
READ ALSO: ‘To err is human’ – Obaseki bows to pressure accepts Shaibu’s apology
“I have nothing personal against the deputy governor and never have,” he added of his relationship with Mr Philip Shaibu, his deputy.
“For me, the issues are very straightforward,’’ Obaseki said.
Obaseki and Shaibu’s relationship had recently deteriorated as the two launched brickbats at each other until Shaibu apologized to the governor on September 21.
Obaseki welcomed Shaibu’s apologies, stating, “Error is human, but forgiveness is divine.”
The governor, however, remained mum on whether he would allow Shaibu to return to his Government House office.
“I have noted the public apology made by the Deputy Governor of Edo, His Excellency, Comrade Philip Shaibu.
“The apology followed an aberrant behaviour that contradicts what the people of Edo stand for.
“To name a few, the deputy governor needlessly filed unfounded petitions in courts, restraining me, the House of Assembly and security agencies from a non-existent impeachment process.
“This followed repeated breaches of protocol; unwarranted and unprovoked attacks in the media on my person and on the state government.
“Although, these unwarranted provocations caused me severe personal discomfort, as a person of faith, I am under obligation to accept this apology, because as they say, to err is human, to forgive is divine.
“In good faith, I trust that the public apology as expressed by the deputy governor is genuine, and followed by contrite steps to improve his conflict-resolution skills.
“I also enjoin the deputy governor to guide his proxies to act in accordance with his piety.
“It is my sincere hope that this rhetoric will be put to an end to enable this administration to finish strong, over these final 12 months, Obaseki had said.
On Sept. 21, Shaibu begged Obaseki to forgive him, claiming he was sorry and that he missed the Edo governor.
He further indicated that he did not move into his newly-allocated office outside Government House because it had not yet been policed and lacked a conference room, among other things.
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