The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu, has stated that he is prepared to hand over office to the newly elected governor and deputy governor of the state, regardless of whether the outgoing governor, Godwin Obaseki, is present or not.
Shuaibu made this statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday.
His clarification comes amid rumors that Obaseki was absent from the state. On Monday, Obaseki had granted a pardon to 10 inmates with less than one year remaining on their sentences, exercising his prerogative of mercy.
The pardon was announced in a statement from the Governor’s Office, led by Special Adviser on Media, Crusoe Osagie.
Obaseki concluded his tenure as governor on Monday and is set to hand over to the incoming governor, Monday Okpebholo, today.
Okpebholo emerged victorious in the September 21, 2024 governorship election, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Despite the circulating rumors of Obaseki’s alleged disappearance, Shuaibu expressed that he was “deeply happy” to be handing over to Okpebholo and his deputy.
He said, “I am deeply happy that today has come and I am going to be handing over to a new deputy governor.
“The governor and I have been apart. He does not communicate with me and we don’t talk. It is very unfortunate. I have not been able to see him in the last four days. Normally, if the governor is not there, the deputy governor will hand over. So whether he is there or not, I am ready to hand over”.
When asked what his experience was working with the outgoing governor, Shuaibu said although he was loyal to Obaseki, he “went through a lot” during the administration.
“Yes. I am back in APC. I am one of the very young guys that started the APC in Edo State. Because of loyalty, I went with my governor. I decamped from APC to PDP not because I wanted to, but because I wanted to but because I was loyal to Obeseki. I left APC because of him, and I am back to APC because of him.
“I thank him for the opportunity to be able to reunite with my father, Oshimole who I quarrelled with because of Obaseki”.
Okpebholo becomes the fifth governor of Edo State since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999.