AFTER months of controversy and uproar, Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, earlier today threw his hat into the ring for the number seat in the state in the scheduled 2024 governorship election in the state.
In a pre-recorded speech aired today, Shaibu, who has been the deputy governor of the state since 2016, said he would run for the number one office in the state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
After his official declaration, Shaibu launched his campaign office in Benin City, the state capital, at an event crowded with party supporters in branded accoutrement.
“After all the consultation we have made, we need to now make the answer to our consultation known to our people. And the answer is clear: they have asked me to run,” Shaibu said.
The 53-year-old politician said he has put his life on the line for the development and growth of the state and he was determined to make the South-South state great again.
Shaibu, who has been having a running battle with his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki, for some time over his political ambition, said though he was persecuted, he was not crushed.
Shaibu is from Edo North Senatorial District, the same district as ex-governor of the state and current lawmaker representing the district in the 10th National Assembly, Adams Oshiomhole.
Both Obaseki and Shaibu were once allies of Oshiomhole but the political association among them tumbled towards the 2020 governorship election when the ex-labour leader was accused of ‘godfatherism’ which he denied.
Obaseki and Shaibu survived their re-election which had Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who was backed by Oshiomhole and other APC heavyweights including ex-governor of Lagos State and now president of the country Bola Tinubu.
Eighteen-Eleven Media