VAM News Update

Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, has accepted the public apology made by his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, stressing that to err is human, while to forgive is divine.

Obaseki accepted his “loyal” deputy’s apology on September 28, but he (Edo governor) was silent on if he would allow him (Shaibu) to return to his office in Government House, from the newly-allocated office at No. 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin.

Edo governor said: “I have noted the public apology made by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu. This apology followed an aberrant behaviour that contradicts what the people of Edo state stand for.

“To name a few, the Deputy Governor needlessly filed unfounded petitions in the Nigerian courts, restraining me, the State House of Assembly and security agencies from a non-existent impeachment process, followed by repeated breaches of protocol; unwarranted and unprovoked attacks in the media on my person and the State Government. The media frenzy as a result of the above and more, provided an impression of crises that has been precarious and distasteful to Edo people in the state and across the world.

“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 and that of my other colleagues in government and all well-meaning Edo people, that this rhetoric will be put to an end forthwith, to enable this administration to finish strong, and deliver the dividends of democracy to the greatest number of Edo people, over these final twelve months.”

Shaibu, on September 21, pleaded with Obaseki to forgive him, saying he was sorry, while declaring that he was really missing Edo governor.

He also stated that he had not moved into his newly-allocated office at No. 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, GRA, outside Government House, Benin, because the recently-renovated office was not yet policed, and it lacked a conference room, among other needs.

Shaibu, a staunch Catholic, spoke at his personal residence in GRA, Benin, while receiving members of Catholic Men Organisation of Nigeria (CMON), Benin Archdiocese, led by the President, Austin Odigie, a lawyer, who visited to give him a letter for his investiture as the grand patron of CMON in the Archdiocese.

Edo deputy governor had said: “We have resumed (in the newly-allocated office). There is no problem about it, but there are still lots of work to be done there. There is no conference room. So, we are working on a lot of things there. The governor (Obaseki) asked us to go there (new office), and we are going.

“I am a loyal servant. Nothing has changed. I took a personal vow to support my governor. My Catholic people are here. Everything about me, if I have a vow with God, nothing can change it. I only wish that the relationship that we (Obaseki and Shaibu) had, in the next few days, it will come back. I am really missing my governor.

“God will touch the governor’s heart and touch all of us, and even those that are trying to be in between, God will touch them to know that I mean well.

“If there is any mistake that I have made as human, it is just human. Not out of wickedness, because I am not wicked. I have a very clean heart. I will use this medium to plead with Mr. Governor (Obaseki) that if there is anything that I do not know that I have done, please forgive me, so that we can develop our state together.

“We have just a little over one year to go (second tenure to expire on November 12, 2024, while the governorship election will hold in September next year). We (Obaseki and Shaibu) have been the envy of the entire country. It is still possible. So, Mr. Governor (Obaseki), if there is anything you feel that I have done, I am sorry. I need us to work together, to finish well and strong, because that is my prayer for you.”

Shaibu also stated that he would have received his guests at his new office, and not in his personal residence, but the one-storey building had not been policed, and he would not want to take unnecessary risks, at this crucial period, while assuring that he would continue to serve God, as taught him by his late father, who had a Muslim background, but later became a Catholic, and died as a pentecostal pastor.

He noted that his holding unto God had always made him be victorious while describing himself as God’s miracle and that he and his siblings grew up in the Catholic Church, and still participated in Catholic programmes and activities.

Edo deputy governor described himself as a very committed and strong-willed person who could not be bought with money, declaring that: “If I am with you, I am with you. Nothing troubles me. I sleep well,” and revealed that after politics, he would end up as a warden in Catholic Church, as his wife, Maryann, was currently doing.